Australia Retail

Retail spending jumped higher in September, as shoppers embarked on a spending spree, adding further pressure on the Reserve Bank to hike rates on Melbourne Cup Day.

With monthly retail spending rising the most since January, pressure is mounting on the Reserve Bank to hike rates when its board meets next week.

National retail sales lifted in September as shoppers felt the change of seasons in their wardrobes and homes and grabbed the latest technology. But WA bucked the trend after a strong showing the month prior.

Economic activity, retail spending and business investment has catapulted Victoria to best performing economy in the nation but it faces stiff competition.

Only about one-quarter of us can be bothered shopping around for the best price, which only adds to the big profits of Australian retailers. Here’s a few savvy shopping tricks to get yourself a bargain.

Small business is feeling the pinch in the lead-in to Christmas, according to a new survey by the Australian Retailers Association.

A brave new world of hi-tech surveillance is sweeping through Australian supermarkets, with retail behemoths Woolworths and Coles investing millions in more cameras.

Grocery retailer Aldi is facing a class action for the alleged deliberate underpayments of more than 20,000 workers totalling $150 million.

One of the country’s largest retail chains, Harvey Norman, says pre-tax profits have almost halved in the September quarter as the cost of living crunch sees households with less money to spend on appliances, TVs, furniture and other gadgets.