Media Release

Retailers said today’s Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to hold the cash rate at 4.10% is a significant blow for consumer and business confidence that will delay the recovery of the retail sector. The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) said weak consumer spending and high business...

Australians continued to spend more across retail compared to the same period last year, with the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showing consumer spending during February 2025 at $37.1 billion, 3.6% higher than February 2024. The ‘other retailing’ category – which includes cosmetics, sports, and recreational...

Getting the retail sector back on its feet must be a priority in the Federal Election, with retail contributing almost one fifth of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) said today. ARA Chief Industry Affairs Officer Fleur Brown says retail contributes...

Retailers have identified knives and blades as a weapon of choice in retail crime, triggering calls from the sector to cut red tape around wanding and increase restrictions on knife sales. Data recently released by retail crime intelligence software company Auror revealed knives and blades made up over 50 per...

As the impacts of emergency weather conditions continue to unfold across Queensland and New South Wales, retailers have called for patience, cautioning that the recovery of some store operations will take time. Peak bodies the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) said with weather remaining unpredictable, safety...

As Cyclone Alfred and heavy rainfall continues to threaten Queensland and Northern New South Wales, retailers have put preparations in place to ensure the safety of their teams, customers and stores. The intensity of the weather event has meant that many stores in affected areas are now closed until conditions...

Retailers have called today’s decision from the Reserve Bank of Australia a welcome confidence boost but warned tough times are far from over for the retail sector. Peak bodies, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA), said the impacts of subdued consumer spending coupled with high costs...

Small businesses in NSW are being urged to plan ahead, following the introduction of new ANZAC Day trading laws.   ANZAC Day is a deeply solemn occasion, and retailers and employees have always respected the sacrifice of Australian service men and women and the significance of the day to the nation.  For...

Australians embraced Cyber Monday and Boxing Day sales along with festive spending in December, with the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showing spending during the final month of the year was 4.6% higher than in 2023. Household goods saw the most significant increase (up 7%), followed...

Early discounting strategies by cyber and household goods retailers have paid off, as revealed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) retail data, which reported an overall 0.6 per cent boost to retail sales in October. According to the ABS, the non-food industries saw significant rises, with other retailing up by...

The National Retail Association (NRA) and the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) have predicted that Australians will spend a record $6.7 billion during Black Friday/Cyber Monday (BFCM) this year. NRA Interim CEO Lindsay Carroll said savvy shoppers have been holding out on spending in recent months so they can splurge during...

Retailers are urging the Reserve Bank (RBA) to gift a Christmas rate cut to shoppers at its last meeting of the year. Today, the RBA once again held rates, but consumers and retailers are waiting for Martin Place to make good on its promise that it would consider cutting rates...

Australian Retailers Association and National Retail Association amalgamation update The name of Australia’s new peak retail body has been revealed as the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) build towards a proposed amalgamation. The proposed entity will be known as the Australian Retail Council (ARC) and will feature...

The Reserve Bank has one more chance to stifle Black Friday sales in November, and retailers are urging them not to use August’s healthy sales boost as an excuse. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released retail sales data for August today, revealing a 0.7 per cent increase in trade...

Today, the Reserve Bank once again held rates, but shoppers’ wallets remain shut to struggling retailers. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that year-on-year sales flatlined in July, despite efforts by retailers to encourage spending. National Retail Association (NRA) Interim CEO Lindsay Carroll said the sector is bracing for a...