Retail sales rise slightly in September quarter but remain low: ABS

The news: Retail volumes rebounded slightly in the September quarter after three successive drops, but figures remain historically low, according to the ABS.

The numbers: Australian retail sales volumes lifted 0.2% in September, after falling 0.6%, 0.7% and 0.6% and the previous three quarters. Despite the small increase, sales volumes are down 1.7% on the same quarter last year and 4.0% lower on a per capita basis, the biggest 12-month drop in the series' history.

The context: The ABS stopped short of equating the small rebound to any kind of reversal, and noted the uptick was supported by lower retail price growth, unseasonably warm weather and one-off events like the FIFA Women's World Cup.