Looking better...

Retail sales growth has been poor for four years now reflecting a combination of consumer caution, falling wealth, “excessive” interest rates, the strongly rising $A, surging electricity prices, slowing income growth and job insecurity. With some of these factors now fading or set to fade, retail sales growth is likely to pick-up a notch next year.

This should see growth pick up to around 4 to 5% pa from 2-3% over the past four years.  Read more here  Rick Maggi (Westmount. Financial Solutions.)