Groceries, department stores and fashion edges online sales up in September

By Aimee Chanthadavong

Online sales growth has increased slightly to +0.3 per cent month-on-month in September, following weak sales in August, which only recorded a 0.1 per cent increase, according to the National Australia Bank Online Retail Sales Index.

In value terms, online retail spending totalled $14.3 billion, which is equivalent to 6.3 per cent of traditional bricks and mortar retail sector in the 12 months to August 2013.

The NAB Online Retail Sales Index rose in September – up to 230 points on a seasonally adjusted basis from 226 points in August.

According to NAB chief economist Alan Oster, online sales trends remain quite mixed at the sub-category level.

“In year-on-year terms, the rates of growth edged up to 10.7 per cent – the second slowest rate of growth observed in the index from 9.1 per cent in August,” he said.

“Year-on-year growth was observed in Media, Groceries & Liquor, Department & Variety Stores and Fashion, while sales contracted in Personal & Recreational Goods, Daily Deals, Homewares & Appliances and Toys & Electronic Games.”