Record sales of groceries and electrical and electronic goods helped Tasmania to a 46th straight month of retail sales growth in August.
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The value of sales from cafes, restaurants and catering services also hit record levels.
Total turnover increased by $2.9 million in August to a record $545.7 million, trend terms Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed.
The 0.5 per cent growth in August was the nation’s strongest.
Tasmanian turnover had grown in every month after October 2014.
State Treasurer Peter Gutwein said Tasmania had had the fastest rate of retail trade growth in the nation for the fifth month in a row.
“These great results don’t happen by accident; they are the result of the Hodgman Government’s strong economic management and a long-term plan that is creating jobs and increasing confidence across the state,” Mr Gutwein said.
”Over the year to August 2018, Tasmania’s retail trade has also grown by 5.3 per cent, the second-fastest annual growth rate in the nation.”
Sales by cafes, restaurants and catering services increased by $600,000, compare d to July, to total $30.7 million.
Takeaway sales dropped by $200,000 to $29.1 million.
Food retail turnover increased by $1.9 million to a record $248.2 million.
That included a $1.7 million increase in sales from supermarkets, grocery stores to a record $213.5 million.
Sales of household goods increased by $300,000 to $100 million.
That was mostly due to a $200,000 increase in sales of electrical and electronic goods to $37.2 million.
Newspapers and books combined dropped $300,000 to $9.3 million.
That was their weakest month since 2015.
“Other recreational goods” sales also weakened.
They dropped $100,000 to total $13.8 million.
Sales of clothing, footwear and personal accessories were steady at $29 million.
Turnover of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and toiletries was also flat, at $27.3 million.
The ABS estimated national turnover increased by 0.3 per cent in August in seasonally adjusted terms.
National food retail sales were flat.
There was strong turnover growth for department stores, clothing, footwear and personal accessories and cafes, restaurants and takeaways.