Over the long-term, JB Hi-Fi Australia has delivered close to 5% comparable sales growth. The company’s ability to alter its product range as well as drive more premium products has been a hallmark of its success. The company now faces a tougher demand backdrop given price inflation in some key categories combined with deflation in others from a higher Australian dollar. What does it all mean? Volumes for electronics will slow given the retail cycle is slowing as well as the consumer response to higher prices. Even so, the company should deliver sales growth. We see comp sales troughing at 2.7% in FY27e with a return towards 3% beyond FY27e.

The debate about the minimum wage decision for FY27e is heating up and the backdrop of rising inflation is adding risk for retailers. We expect a retail award wage increase of 3.8% to 4.3% for FY27e, with a backdrop of the trimmed mean inflation at 3.7%-3.8%. The retailers with highest sensitivity to wage cost growth are Myer, Woolworths, Bapcor and Accent Group. All retailers have adapted to higher wage rate growth over the past three years by automating elements of their business and cutting hours. Further wage savings is likely to be limited to those retailers with larger formats and flexible labour, which includes Bunnings, JB Hi-Fi and Officeworks.

Myer Holdings reported 1H26 group EBIT of $113 million, down 17% on a proforma basis. Sales growth of 2.1% was offset by lower gross margins and cost investments. We have revised our sales lower on store count and slowing comps. We lower gross margin expectations and delay synergy and supply chain benefits. Fixing the supply chain issues, delivering on synergies and leveraging Myer One should all translate into meaningful earnings growth delivered from a strong financial position.

The Federal Government has lifted the Fuel Security Services Payment (FSSP) thresholds that will result in far lower risk of EBITDA losses in both Ampol and Viva’s refining businesses. We estimate the EBITDA loss scenarios would only occur at a refining margin close to LRM of US$4.50/bbl or lower Ampol or GRM of US$6/bbl for Viva. Current elevated refining margins mean the FSSP is not at all relevant for the March quarter. The real debate is how long elevated refining margins hold. The situation around oil and fuel supply remains highly uncertain and should be taken into consideration in gauging the 12-24 month outlook.

Premier Investments reported 1H26 Retail EBIT (pre AASB-16 and excluding significant items) of $119 million, down 7.8%. Total sales were flat with gross margin of 66.9%, which fell 92bp. With Peter Alexander sales per store slowing and the UK in trial phase, a Smiggle turnaround will drive the earnings growth.

Given the increased uncertainty for consumers, we have put together a slide deck to help navigate the potential risks to retail demand over the next 12 months. Separately we have published reports about both the risk from higher petrol prices and what history tells us about the impact of interest rate hikes on retail spending.

SPC Global reiterated guidance of full year normalised EBITDA growth of 25%. SPC Global 1H26 EBITDA of $13 million implies 2H25e EBITDA of $25 million with full year FY26e EBITDA of $38 million. We forecast that the EBITDA improvement in 1H26 benefitted from the delivery of synergies and the exit of low margin contracts offset missed international sales impacted by timing differences.

Oil price shocks are relatively rare but they do lead to a spike in fuel prices. In Issue 10 of Price Watch, we explore the duration of fuel price spikes and their impact on both consumer demand and costs across the retail value chain. The impact of a 30-cent increase in fuel prices could drop retail sales growth by 0.8% with the most substantial impact in the first five months following the spike. The most notable impact is on takeaway food, fashion and hardware sales. The impact on retailers and consumers is broader than just the fuel price impact because product transport costs, energy costs and product packaging are also impacted by oil price movements.

Sigma reported 1H26 normalised revenue growth of 15% and EBIT growth of 19%. The sales result was strong but the modest operating leverage is a reminder of the inherently low gross margins in the business. Sales trends are strong but likely to slow from here. We expect LFL to remain double-digit in 2H26e, but then slip into single-digit territory for FY27e as the company laps higher growth and price inflation fades. Going forward, each 1% sales growth to translate into approximately 1.5% EBIT growth. Synergies will continue to help earnings over the next four years.

Endeavour Group’s 1H26 result release revealed ongoing weakness in Retail liquor sales and further gross margin pressure for 2H26e. Gross margin investment that commenced in September 2025 needs to flow through and should start to boost sales late in FY26e as marketing is ramped up. However, EBIT recovery will only begin in FY27e. The Hotel segment is seeing good momentum from site renewals and more will be done over the next year. However, it is grappling with higher cost growth.