Category Archives: Retail trade

Let’s hope omicron is just a short, sharp shock

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Gene Tunny

Things have worsened quickly with Queensland’s omicron outbreak, and we really hope it is just a “short, sharp” outbreak as many health experts are predicting. The Brisbane Times has reported “University of Sydney infectious diseases expert Robert Booy also forecast … Continue reading →

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No way Qld Gov’t can cancel 17 December reopening to other states – Omicron be damned

Posted on November 30, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Fortunately, the Queensland Government gave a firm commitment to reopen the state to interstate visitors on 17 December, and I doubt the Omicron variant will force the Government to cancel that reopening. It would wreck the government politically, just as … Continue reading →

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ABS reveals big impact of lockdowns on retail trade + today’s livestream link

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Let’s hope the Queensland Government doesn’t impose a lockdown in response to the new cases coming out of Goondiwindi, as the ABS’s estimates of retail turnover for September quarter show us once more the large adverse impact that lockdowns have … Continue reading →

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Qld retail inquiry – industry demands greater consumer choice and removal of inconsistencies

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Parliament’s Education, Employment and Training Committee is undertaking an inquiry into retail trading hours which could lead to improved consumer choice and reduced inconsistencies, but will probably end up recommending minimal changes, I fear. Hopefully, it will at … Continue reading →

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Lockdowns reduce retail trade 14-17% in NSW and ACT compared with pre-lockdown levels

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Thankfully, and better late than never, the upcoming NRL Grand Final has forced the Queensland Government to recognise the large economic costs associated with lockdowns, and it has decided not to panic this time, and surprisingly it has not yet … Continue reading →

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Online retail falling away from 2020 highs

Posted on April 24, 2021 by Gene Tunny

The big news on the Australian sharemarket yesterday was the 14% drop in the Kogan share price after a market update revealed a drop in earnings for the online retailer (see chart below). This probably should not have been such … Continue reading →

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Unpacking the retail goods spending spree in 2020

Posted on March 21, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Today’s Sunday Mail includes a good article by Jane Armitstead on The best-selling lockdown products we had to have: When the global pandemic hit, Queenslanders turned their focus to their homes and gardens with a boom in DIY projects. Homewares … Continue reading →

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Big test ahead for economy & will we regret all the lockdowns?

Posted on March 20, 2021 by Gene Tunny

The latest retail trade figures from the ABS illustrate the challenge the Australian economy faces over the next few months with JobKeeper and the JobSeeker Coronavirus Supplement ending soon. Household disposable incomes have been boosted by all the generous assistance … Continue reading →

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Qld artisan liquor and craft beer bill could be much more ambitious

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Regular QEW reader Andrew Aschman has alerted me to a current Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into a bill which, among other things, would make it easier for artisan distillers and craft brewers to sell their products on or off their premises … Continue reading →

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Retail is Detail with Bruno Cortigiani of Merlai – my latest podcast episode

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Although stimulus payments have helped Australia’s retail sector to a strong recovery in late 2020, the longer-term trend has not been great, and there have been concerns about a so-called Retail Apocalypse in Australia and other advanced economies. To thrive … Continue reading →

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