Despite Mr Rudds recent attempts to invoke the confidence to import and buy stock, followed by 3 success slaps in the face for small businesses by interest rate rises just when they expect to sell that stock, the ABS results (believe it or not) show Sales Growth For October.

In current price original terms, chains and other large retailers increased 6.6% in October 2009. The estimate for smaller retailers also increased 6.6% in October 2009.

Australia’s Retailers all know that sales increases wont be the case for November thanks to our inneffective Reserve Bank board, ( its only last year that those fools hiked interest rates sharply and then had to quickly reduce them).

The ABS chart above shows the trend series and seasonally adjusted series to October 2009.

In current price trend terms, Australian turnover increased 0.2% in October 2009 following increases of 0.3% in both September 2009 and August 2009. This is the smallest increase in Retail trend turnover since August 2008.

Food retailing, Department stores, and Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services have all had an increase in the trend for at least nine months. Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing decreased (-0.1%), the first decline since July 2008. Other retailing decreased (-0.1%) for the second consecutive month. Household good retailing remained unchanged in October 2009.

All states have had an increase in the trend estimate for at least four months except Queensland which decreased (-0.1%) in October 2009 and South Australia which remained unchanged for the second consecutive month.

In current price seasonally adjusted terms, Australian turnover increased by 0.3% in October 2009 following a decrease of 0.2% in September and an increase of 0.5% in August 2009.

Source for data: ABS.