Australian retail sales grew 3.2% in March 2025 year-on-year. March was impacted by the timing of Easter. Last year Easter Sunday fell on 31 March but was on 20 April in 2025. Impacts are varied by category depending on product and store closure effects. On an underlying basis, March growth looks strong for supermarket, department stores and recreational goods. Queensland sales were dragged down by Cyclone Alfred.

What we’re seeing and hearing in retail

• Account for Easter timing: Easter Sunday moved to from 31 March 2024 to 20 April 2025. This means March sales were dragged down in liquor, supermarkets and takeaway food. Other categories benefited.
• Price rises coming: We are hearing about price increases for whitegoods and appliances in response to currency weakness. While the currency has recovered some ground we expect to see more price rises in retail.
• Travel still doing well, auto less so: Australians are holidaying overseas in record numbers. Three months to Feb 2025 were up 16% on 2024 and 18% on 2019 levels. Motor vehicle and fuel spend was down 2%.

Sub-sector insights

• Supermarkets: Supermarket sales were slower at 2.7%, however, the shift in Easter timing meant that the Easter adjustment was higher. Coles and Woolworths retail 3Q25 sales trends adjusted for Easter were 3.5% and 3.0% respectively.
• Liquor: Off-premise liquor sales were down 7.7%. Liquor was similarly impacted by Easter and would have been positive on an adjusted basis. Coles liquor comp was flat for the March qtr suggesting market share gains.
• Takeaway food and restaurant: Takeaway food sales grew 2.7% and cafes & restaurants were up 1.5%. Coles called out a shift to in-home consumption in its recent sales update.
• Pharmacy & cosmetics: Pharmacy and cosmetics continues its strong run of growth at 9.1%. Health and beauty products are starting to experience some deflation.
• Electronics: Electronics retailers sales were higher by 7.2%. Product innovation and Easter timing explain the sales strength.
• Hardware and furniture: Hardware sales were 2.8% higher. Furniture sales were up 3.6%. Furniture sales in March benefited from the timing of Easter public holidays.
• Recreational goods: Recreational goods accelerated, up 7.5%. Additional sales days from public holiday timing vs last year a benefit.
• Department stores: Department stores sales grew just 0.2%. A slowing in pace but negatively impacted by Easter timing. Big W also called out increasing levels of promotional activity to clear stock.
• Fashion: Clothing was up 7.3% with footwear up 1.2%. The Easter timing impact on clothing is bigger than footwear and boosted both in March.
• Online retail: Online sales increased 13.7%, maintaining a double-digit growth rate since August 2024.

Australian retail sales long-term trends

Source: ABS, MST Marquee