Monthly Tasmanian food sales reached $250 million for the first time in December as the state notched a 41st straight month of retail growth.
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December food sales gained $300,000 compared to November to total $250.1 million, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics trend terms figures.
That was despite sales at supermarkets and grocery stores falling by $200,000 to $212.4 million.
The increase in total food sales could only have come from one or both of the other categories the ABS counts in the food total.
One of those is alcohol and the other is “other specialised food retailing”.
The ABS does not publish separate Tasmanian totals for those categories.
Supermarkets and grocery stores were not the only retailers which had a relatively soft Christmas month.
Total sales for cafes, restaurants and catering services were estimated to have fallen by $300,000 to $30.3 million.
Takeaway sales edged up by $100,000 to $29 million.
Total retail sales were estimated to have increased by $400,000 to a record $547.9 million.
The ABS estimated they had increased in every month since October 2014, when they totalled $466.6 million.
December sales of hardware, building and garden supplies increased by $300,000 to $37.1 million.
Sales of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and toiletries increased by $300,000 to $29.1 million.
Turnover decreases were recorded for:
- Other recreational goods (down by $200,000 to $12.3 million);
- newspapers and books (down $100,000 to $9 million); and
- furniture, floor coverings, housewares and textile goods (down $300,000 to $25.9 million).
Sales of electrical and electronic goods were flat at $37.4 million.
The ABS estimated every state and territory except New South Wales and the Northern Territory had turnover increases in December, in trend terms.
Tasmania’s growth rate was 0.1 per cent.
Referring to the 50 straight months of retail growth, Tasmanian Treasurer Peter Gutwein said: “Results like this don’t happen by chance and the Hodgman Liberal government is working hard to deliver on our long-term plan to grow the economy and create jobs in Tasmania.”
“Today’s figures follow the release of the Sensis Business Index for the December 2018 quarter which showed that for the sixth consecutive quarter the government’s policies have been ranked the most popular in the nation among small and medium businesses.
“Tasmania was the second strongest growing state in Australia, with retail growth of 4.8 per cent in December 2018 compared to a year ago.
“Consumers clearly feel confident about the current economic conditions in Tasmania.”
Shadow Treasurer Scott Bacon said it was great to see retail sales continuing to hold up.
“There is no doubt that consumer sentiment is strong right now,” Mr Bacon said.
“However, the government can not afford to be complacent and we remain frustrated by the their lack of action on reforms to take advantage of Tasmania’s strong economy.
“The revised estimates report released last week shows the Liberals have squandered good economic conditions and put the state in a debt spiral, with $343 million worth of debt within three years.”