The ABS retail trade data released today confirm the economy is set to recover and has the Australian Retailers Association excited about the Christmas season (Christmas miracle for retailers). This chart from the OESR brief shows positive growth is locked in (although the rate of growth is unspectacular):

Food retailing has been the best performing category. This is unsurprising given the proliferation of hole-in-the-wall food retailers such as those 2 in 1 Japanese bakeries and Pie Face shops.