New figures released today from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show Australian retail turnover climbed 7.0% in November 2025, reinforcing a broader shift toward earlier peak-season shopping and confirming that Australians are front-loading their festive and discretionary spending.
ABS data reveals total retail turnover rose to $39.1 billion in November 2025, a lift of $2.5bn from November 2024 figures. There were strong year-on-year gains across most major categories and states, with the biggest increases reserved for well-established 'Christmas gift categories'.
Household goods in particular experienced a sales bonanza. Highlights include:
- Household goods retailing: up 10.1%
- Other retailing: up 9.2%
- Cafés, restaurants and takeaway food services: up 9.2%
- Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing: up 8.9%
- Food retailing: up 3.8%
Major states also delivered solid growth, with Western Australia (+8.9%), Queensland (+7.9%) and NSW (+7.0%) leading the gains.
Australian Retailers Association (ARA) CEO Chris Rodwell said the month's performance underlines a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour around the 'peak season' trading period.
"November has become a critical peak trading month in its own right," he said. "We're seeing strong demand across discretionary and essential categories well before mid-December - year after year this trend is becoming more entrenched."
The ABS figures align with recent ARA research showing Australians are starting their Christmas shopping earlier. ARA data showed that nearly one-in-three shoppers are beginning Christmas purchases earlier than they did in 2024, with deal-driven events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday becoming core moments in peak-season retail calendars.
"Black Friday and early-season promotions are now firmly embedded in the shopping cycle," Mr Rodwell said. "What used to be a once-off mid-December rush is now a sustained, earlier, deal-sensitive shopping season."
Mr Rodwell said the spending pattern reflects value-orientated consumer behaviour, and a desire to spread purchases across an extended period rather than clustering around Christmas Eve.
"Consumers are seeking both value and convenience. They're starting earlier, taking advantage of promotions, and distributing their spend across November and early December - and that's showing up clearly in the ABS turnover data."
