Australia: Retail sales dip in March
Retail sales dropped 0.4% month-on-month in seasonally adjusted terms in March (February: +0.2% mom). March’s reading was largely driven by a deterioration in household goods sales. In addition, clothing and footwear sales fell. Lastly, department stores sales dropped at a sharper rate, while cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services sales dipped at a steeper pace than in February.