Tag Archives: retailtrade

Reasons to be optimistic Qld will cope with shock from mining investment decline

BIS Shrapnel’s new report on the mining industry appears to pick up the points made at the Energy Skills Queensland conference I attended last week regarding how gas will boom, but the outlook for minerals is much less optimistic (More … Continue reading

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Very little real growth in retail trade since financial crisis

Yesterday’s retail trade data for July from the ABS were disappointing and continue to show consumers are reluctant to spend. Indeed, in real terms (i.e. adjusting for inflation), there has been practically no growth in retail turnover since the financial … Continue reading

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Greater uncertainty over 2013-14 economic outlook

The last 24 hours have seen the release of a sobering NAB report on its monthly business survey (Business conditions collapse in June, retail worst hit, says NAB) and the latest IMF World Economic Outlook, which has slightly downgraded China’s … Continue reading

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Queenslanders spending, but not building

It was a week of mixed economic news for Queensland, with the latest ABS data showing retail spending is growing reasonably well in Queensland, while building approvals continue at low levels. Queensland is out-performing the rest of Australia on retail … Continue reading

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Traditional small business lobby much smaller than it once was – should make trading hours deregulation easier

While thinking about retail trading hours the other day, it occurred to me again that the relative decline in traditional corner stores means that arguments in favour of maintaining trading hours restrictions are much less compelling. Across Australia there has … Continue reading

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24-hour retail trading inevitable and desirable

I was very pleased to read in today’s Sunday Mail that Woolworths will open a 24/7 store on Federal Government land at Brisbane airport, avoiding Queensland’s archaic trading hours restrictions. While the Attorney-General has suggested there needs to be a … Continue reading

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Retail sector adapting to new frugality – big box shopping & affordable luxuries

Australia’s retail sector has had to adapt to the new frugality as a result of the financial crisis, and it appears that, among bricks-and-mortar retailers, only big box stores such as Bunnings have thrived. Yesterday saw the site launch of the … Continue reading

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Big box stores like Costco essential if we’re to close retail productivity gap with US

I was pleased to see the Deputy Premier used his special powers to approve the big box Costco store at North Lakes in Brisbane, avoiding a potential legal dispute that could delay the development (see the AAP report Costco is … Continue reading

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West End Aldi could be frontline in battle for retail trading hours deregulation

The push for trading hours deregulation will receive extra impetus from Aldi, which hopes to set up a 24/7 store at West End in Brisbane (see the Brisbane Times report from the other day, Aldi looks to expand into West End). … Continue reading

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More young women studying full-time due to sluggish labour market

Katherine Feeney has an interesting article in the Brisbane Times today on the decline in labour force participation (i.e. working or actively looking for work) among young women in Brisbane since the financial crisis (Young women out of work): In … Continue reading

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