Media release
Date 21 April 2015
For immediate release
Subject
Fashion performs best in Easter retail sales slump, with
traditional Mother’s Day sales spike on horizon
Fashion retailers held firmest against the traditionally-slow Easter sales period, recording
their lowest drop in pre-Easter sales in four years, according to the Australian Retail Index.
The Index – powered by leading audit, tax and advisory firm BDO and pre-eminent cloudbased software provider Retail Express – revealed fashion retail sales dropped 1.28% in the
week before Easter 2015 compared to drops of up to 10% in previous years.
Across the retail sector, the sales slump was felt strongest after the Easter weekend, with a
drop of 5% the week prior to Easter followed by a 15% decline the following week.
BDO National Retail Lead Partner Simon Scalzo suggested retailers needn’t be overly
concerned however, as sales patterns generally hit a lull at this time.
“The drops followed gains across February and March, and are typical of Easter sales patterns
with retailers being affected by two public holidays and the short school holiday period,” Mr
Scalzo said.
“During the Easter holidays, Australians are less likely to be purchasing large ticket items like
furniture, which dropped almost 20% pre-Easter this year.
“While sector-wide, pre-Easter sales fared better than in previous years, the post-Easter
week saw a significant drop from 2012-2014 levels.”
There could be relief in sight for some retail sectors, with pre-Mother’s Day typically seeing a
spike in sales.
“In the week leading up to Mother’s Day 2014, fashion and accessories sales jumped more
than 21% and other general retail about 20%,” Mr Scalzo said.
“Overall that week saw sector-wide sales up almost 15%, with 2013 sales about 13% higher.”
The Australian Retail Index at www.australianretailindex.com.au provides week-by-week
sales monitoring, across four key categories – fashion & accessories, furniture & homewares,
sporting & recreational goods and other general retail. It sources weekly card-based, cash
sales and lay-by sales data.
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BDO in Australia is a national association of separate entities. Liability of each entity is limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards
Legislation other than for the acts or omissions of financial services licensees.