‘November has become critical’: Latest retail sales data revealed

Harry Booth

13th Jan 2026

Retail turnover rose across the country in November, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

In 2025, retailers saw turnover rise by $2.5 billion from November 2024, a 7 per cent increase. The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) attributed this to consumers distributing their festive spending.

“November has become a critical peak trading month in its own right,” ARA CEO Chris Rodwell said. 

“We’re seeing strong demand across discretionary and essential categories well before mid-December — year after year, this trend is becoming more entrenched.”

Household goods led the way, with a 10.1 per cent increase from 2024, followed by hospitality and clothing, footwear and personal accessories.

WA and Queensland were the fastest-growing states, with NSW in third.

The ARA said that nearly one in three shoppers are beginning their Christmas purchases earlier than in 2024, due to deal-driven events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM).

“Black Friday and early-season promotions are now firmly embedded in the shopping cycle,” Rodwell added. 

“What used to be a once-off mid-December rush is now a sustained, earlier, deal-sensitive shopping season.

“Consumers are seeking both value and convenience. They’re starting earlier, taking advantage of promotions, and distributing their spend across November and early December – and that’s showing up clearly in the ABS turnover data.”