Category Archives: Retail trade

Great charts from OESR showing surges in online retail & mining investment

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Office of Economic and Statistical Research (OESR) in Queensland Treasury released its latest Queensland Economic Review on Friday, and it contains some excellent charts showing surges in domestic online retailing (which is part of ‘other retailing’ in the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining, Retail trade | Leave a comment

Australia Institute on the future of retail – no more 142% mark ups

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Australia Institute’s Executive Director Richard Denniss made some insightful comments on Australia’s retail trade sector today, recognising that a significant proportion of bricks-and-mortar retailers may no longer be economically viable (Retailers guilty of 142% mark ups: Report): According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Retail trade | 1 Comment

Queensland full of bolters

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Queensland is leading the country in the number of bolting regions – including SEQ, Hervey Bay, Townsville and Cairns – with only Mt Isa and Longreach lagging behind. Check out this table in the excellent new Grattan Institute report Investing … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Cairns, Retail trade, Townsville | Leave a comment

Now they have a decent shopping centre, Ipswich residents are shopping locally

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Gene Tunny

For many years, dedicated Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale has pleaded with Ipswich residents to shop locally instead of driving into Brisbane to shop. Mr Pisasale would often cast Indooroopilly Shoppingtown as the villain, noting that Myer could probably justify opening … Continue reading →

Posted in Ipswich, Retail trade | Leave a comment

Flegg recommends $50 spending cap during natural disasters

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Gene Tunny

After the flood waters had receded on the afternoon of Thursday 13 January, I made it to Indooroopilly Shoppingtown and was surprised to see 3 police officers outside the Woolworths. Obviously there had been an incident there earlier that day … Continue reading →

Posted in Floods, Retail trade | Leave a comment

Positive signs for Queensland economy

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The extended Easter break has seen a boost in tourism and retail spending, reinforcing expectations that Queensland’s economy will rebound after recent sluggishness: Tourists returning to Queensland after floods Easter Saturday trading boom Tourism rebound in Fraser Coast

Posted in Macroeconomy, Retail trade, Tourism | Leave a comment

Queensland’s retail trading hours are perplexing

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Ex-Productivity Commissioner Judith Sloan has a great post over at Catallaxy Files in which she criticises Queensland’s antiquated regulations around retail trading hours (Beautiful one day, closed the next). She also notices a perverse outcome of the simplification of awards … Continue reading →

Posted in IR, Retail trade | 1 Comment

Xenophon’s war on supermarkets

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Gene Tunny

In defiance of basic economic logic, Senator Nick Xenophon has called for the Gillard Government to dismantle the Coles-Woolworths duopoly that dominates 80% of the groceries market (Call to dismantle duopoly): THE Federal Government needs to consider dismantling Coles and … Continue reading →

Posted in Retail trade | Leave a comment

Global milk price rises may surprise Australian consumers

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Australian consumers, who can now buy unbranded milk at $1 per litre at Coles and Woolies, may be surprised by news that milk prices are rising across the world, as reported in Businessweek: Feb. 14 (Bloomberg) — High milk prices … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Retail trade | Leave a comment

Smart retailers embrace fusion

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Gene Tunny

In response to Gerry Harvey’s push to have GST applied to online purchases from overseas, commentators have been quick to criticise Australian retailers for having tired stores and not adding any value to the goods they’re selling.  Hence it’s good … Continue reading →

Posted in Retail trade, Tax | Leave a comment