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Media releases
For media enquiries and interview opportunities, contact the ARC media team on media@retail.org.au or 0434 381 670
All ARC media releases
Retail spending shows steady start to 2026
New figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show household spending on retail rose 5 per cent year-on-year in January 2026, with Australians spending $38.63 billion, up
ARC welcomes Operation Pulse extension, renews calls for permanent state-wide retail crime taskforce
The Australian Retail Council (ARC) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s decision to extend Operation Pulse until the end of the year, saying the results demonstrate the impact of sustained, visible
Retailers and households paying the price for regulatory chaos
Australia’s inconsistent state and territory regulations are imposing a growing economic penalty, with new modelling showing regulatory fragmentation will wipe $26 billion from national GDP over the next decade and
Australians overwhelmingly back facial recognition to protect retail workers from serious crime
New national research shows Australians strongly support the targeted use of facial recognition technology (FRT) to protect retail workers and customers from serious and repeat criminal behaviour.
Love is in the air, but fewer Australians are spending this Valentine’s Day
Fewer Australians are planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, but those who do are still finding room to treat their special someone, according to new research from the Australia
December retail spending cools after early sales surge
Total household spending on retail reached $38.6 billion, with growth strongest in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (up 8.2 per cent). More discretionary categories such as clothing, household goods
It’s time to back the retailers that back Australia
The newly formed Australian Retail Council (ARC) has lodged its first major submission, outlining seven targeted reforms to strengthen retail productivity, support investment and ease cost of living pressures for
New era for Australian retail as Australian Retail Council opens for business
Australia’s retail sector has entered a new era with the formal launch of the Australian Retail Council (ARC), a single, unified voice representing the interests of retailers of all sizes
Back-to-School spending lifts – but fewer families can afford to take part
Australian back-to-school spending is set to rise in 2026 — but across a smaller pool of shoppers, highlighting growing financial strain on lower-income households. New data from the Australian Retailers
Early Christmas shopping drives strong November retail growth
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
Australians to turn out in force for Boxing Day
Australian Boxing Day sales are forecast to rise by 4.3 per cent this year, as budget-conscious shoppers gravitate towards a bargain. New data from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Roy Morgan points to a forecast national spend of around $1.6 billion for the one-day event.
Retail crime now a five-minute reality for Victorians
Retail crime has become a routine and systemic part of daily life in Victoria, with new Crime Statistics Agency data revealing almost 100,000 incidents in retail settings over the past
ARC submissions
Given the important role that the retail sector plays in driving economic growth, we seek government policies that:
- Support the economic impact generated by the retail sector;
- Restore business confidence, particularly for small and medium businesses;
- Increase consumer confidence and disposable income;
- Apply downward pressure on business costs; and
- Reduce complexity by driving national alignment on state matters