Tasmanian retail sales weakened for a sixth straight month in April despite record food sales.
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated Tasmanian retail turnover edged down by $100,000 to $544.3 million in April in trend terms.
That was $2.4 million less than the all-time record of $546.7 million recorded for October.
Food sales increased by $400,000 to $250 million, with supermarkets and grocery stores accounting for the increase.
The ABS counts liquor as food.
Liquor sales were estimated at $27.1 million, which was about $52 per Tasmanian resident.
The ABS had not previously published a stand-alone figure for liquor sales.
Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services also had a record turnover month, with sales up by $500,000 to $60.9 million.
Sales of furniture, floor coverings, houseware and textile goods fell by $400,000 to $24 million.
Electrical and electronic goods sales also weakened, by $300,000 to $36 million.
Clothing sales dropped back by $100,000 to $20.1 million.
The recent softening in retail sales was despite state population reaching record highs.
Wage growth levels, the job market and uncertainty leading up to the May 18 federal election might all have been factors in retail slowing.
Tasmanian wages growth has been subdued for some time, but has shown recent signs of life in the private sector.
The ABS estimated the state lost a net 2100 jobs in the year to April in trend terms, but had returned to modest jobs growth in recent months.
Many full-time jobs were replaced by part-time jobs.