According to the same source, this follows a relatively unchanged result (0.0%) in July 2019.

"Food retailing (0.4%) led the rises, while there were also rises in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (1.8%), department stores (1.1%), household goods retailing (0.3%), and other retailing (0.3%). The rises were partly offset by a fall in cafes, restaurants and takeaway services (-0.3%)", commented Ben James, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys.

In seasonally adjusted terms, there were rises in Queensland (0.8%), New South Wales (0.3%), Victoria (0.3%), South Australia (0.6%), the Australian Capital Territory (1.9%), and Tasmania (0.2%). There were minor falls in Western Australia (-0.1%) and the Northern Territory (-0.1%).

The trend estimates for Australian retail turnover rose 0.1% in August 2019, following a 0.2% rise in July 2019. Compared to August 2018, the trend estimate rose 2.3%.

Online retail turnover contributed 6.2% to total retail turnover in original terms in August 2019. In August 2018, online retail turnover contributed 5.6% to total retail.