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Australian retail sales grew 0.2 pct in December

Xinhua, February 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australian retail sales grew just 0. 2 percent in December as consumers kept their savings from cheaper fuel, new figures revealed on Thursday.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics said the seasonally- adjusted growth was below expectations at 0.3 percent, but better than the 0.1 percent rise for November.

Clothing, footwear and accessories sales rose 2.7 percent, while food edged up 0.3 percent. Electronics sales fell 1.5 percent and furniture and homeware gained 0.7 percent.

There was a 3.4 percent fall in hardware, building and garden supplies, spending in department stores fell nearly 1 percent, sales of household goods was 0.4 percent lower and spending in cafes, restaurants and on takeaway food was flat.

Pharmaceuticals, toiletries and cosmetics sales were flat and newspapers and books saw a 2.6 percent fall in sales. Endi