Industry data
Retail industry statistics
The numbers behind Australian retail: how many retail businesses there are and how many join and leave each year, what the industry earns, monthly turnover, the people who work in it and where, what retailers spend on equipment and buildings, and how many retail companies enter external administration. Each figure links to the agency that published it and shows the period it applies to.
Reviewed 30 October 2026
Key figures
- 156,143 retail businesses actively trading
- $660,121 million in sales and service income for retail businesses
- 1,313.2 thousand people employed in retail, as estimated by the ABS Labour Force Survey
- 40,037.6 million dollars retail turnover in the month, an experimental ABS estimate from household card spending
- 1,006 retail companies entered external administration or had a controller appointed for the first time
Retail businesses
How many retail businesses are trading, how many join and leave the ABS count each year, how long they keep trading and what kinds of retailer they are. The counts come from the ABS Business Register and cover businesses actively trading in retail, from supermarkets and clothing stores to car dealers, fuel retailers and online sellers. Cafes, restaurants and takeaway shops are counted in a different industry.
156,143
retail businesses actively trading
ABS count of actively trading businesses in ANZSIC division G, retail trade. Up 0.1% on a year earlier.
Link to this figure24,568
retail businesses joined the ABS count of trading businesses
Entries include new ABN registrations and also businesses that reactivated a cancelled ABN, started remitting GST again or came into the ABS count's scope, for example through an industry reclassification, so not every entry is a new business. Of these, 17,925 were business births. The ABS puts the retail entry rate at 15.7%.
Link to this figure24,443
retail businesses left the ABS count of trading businesses
Exits include businesses that cancelled their ABN and also businesses that stopped remitting GST for an extended period, changed ABN through a merger or acquisition, or moved out of the ABS count's scope, so not every exit is a closure. Of these, 20,569 were cancellations. The ABS puts the retail exit rate at 15.7%.
Link to this figure56.5%
of retail businesses trading at the start of the period were still trading at its end
Of 157,321 retail businesses operating in June 2022, the ABS counts 88,856 still trading in June 2026.
Link to this figure46.2%
of retail businesses that joined the count were still trading at the end of the period
Of 23,766 retail businesses that entered the count in 2022-23, the ABS counts 10,979 still trading in June 2026.
Link to this figure| Year | Businesses |
|---|---|
| 2023 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2025 | |
| 2026 |
ABS counts of actively trading retail businesses at 30 June, all from the same ABS release. The ABS applies each business's latest industry classification to every year in the release.
Link to this chart| Type of retailing | Businesses |
|---|---|
| Non-store retailing | |
| Other store-based retailing not elsewhere classified | |
| Clothing retailing | |
| Supermarket and grocery stores | |
| Pharmaceutical, cosmetic and toiletry goods retailing | |
| Other specialised food retailing | |
| Hardware and building supplies retailing | |
| Retail commission-based buying and selling | |
| Car retailing | |
| Electrical, electronic and gas appliance retailing |
The ten largest ANZSIC retail classes by number of businesses actively trading, from the latest ABS release with class detail. The ABS says class counts may be perturbed to protect confidentiality, so small differences should not be read closely. Non-store retailing is ANZSIC class 4310: retailing without a shopfront, such as internet retailing, direct mail retailing and vending machines.
Link to this chartSize of the retail industry
What retail businesses earned, the value they added and what they paid in wages, from the ABS Australian Industry release. These figures cover the whole retail trade division, including motor vehicle and fuel retailing, in current prices.
$660,121 million
in sales and service income for retail businesses
Current prices. Up 2.8% on 2023-24, when it was $642,319 million.
Link to this figure$128,427 million
industry value added by retail
An ABS estimate of the value retail businesses added, in current prices. Up 3.2% on 2023-24.
Link to this figure$68,231 million
paid in wages and salaries by retail businesses
Current prices. Excludes the drawings of working proprietors and partners.
Link to this figure$38,808 million
operating profit before tax for retail businesses
Current prices. The ABS puts the retail profit margin before tax at 5.9% of sales and service income.
Link to this figure| Financial year | Sales and service income ($m) |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | |
| 2016-17 | |
| 2017-18 | |
| 2018-19 | |
| 2019-20 | |
| 2020-21 | |
| 2021-22 | |
| 2022-23 | |
| 2023-24 | |
| 2024-25 |
Millions of dollars in current prices, so the figures include price rises. Whole retail trade division. The latest ten years of an ABS series that starts in 2006-07. The ABS reports a break in series for sales and service income in 2020-21, when it changed its survey questionnaire so that income from services provided to governments is reported as sales and service income rather than government funding; it does not give the effect for retail.
Link to this chart| Type of retailing | Sales and service income ($m) |
|---|---|
| Other store-based retailing | |
| Food retailing | |
| Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts retailing | |
| Fuel retailing | |
| Non-store and commission-based retailing |
Millions of dollars in current prices, for every retail subdivision. Non-store retailing covers retailers without a shopfront, such as internet retailers.
Link to this chartRetail turnover each month
The ABS has stopped publishing its monthly Retail Trade survey. Its current monthly measure of retail turnover is an experimental estimate built from household card spending, published with the Monthly Household Spending Indicator. The ABS says these experimental estimates are of lower quality than the other estimates in that publication and should be used with caution. They cover spending by households only, include cafes, restaurants and takeaway food, and leave out motor vehicle and fuel retailing, so they do not match the annual industry figures above.
40,037.6 million dollars
retail turnover in the month, an experimental ABS estimate from household card spending
Experimental estimate, seasonally adjusted, current prices. Includes cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services. The figure for August 2025 was $37,782.5 million.
Link to this figure| Industry group | Turnover ($m) |
|---|---|
| Food retailing | |
| Other retailing | |
| Household goods retailing | |
| Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services | |
| Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing | |
| Department stores and large online retailers |
Millions of dollars, experimental ABS estimates, seasonally adjusted, current prices, for every group the ABS publishes. The ABS combines department stores with some large online retailers because the card data cannot separate them.
Link to this chartPeople working in retail
How many people work in retail, from the ABS Labour Force Survey and from the ABS Australian Industry release, which counts people working for retail businesses. These are different measures taken at different times, and each is named where it appears.
1,313.2 thousand
people employed in retail, as estimated by the ABS Labour Force Survey
People whose main job is in retail trade, seasonally adjusted. The figure for August 2025 was 1,327.6 thousand. The ABS notes there may be some shifts in detailed series following its Labour Force modernisation.
Link to this figure649.0 thousand
people employed part time in retail
Labour Force Survey, original estimate, not seasonally adjusted. People whose main job is in retail trade.
Link to this figure652.8 thousand
people employed full time in retail
Labour Force Survey, original estimate, not seasonally adjusted. People whose main job is in retail trade.
Link to this figure1,493.8 thousand
people working for retail businesses at the end of June, as counted by ABS Australian Industry
People working for retail businesses in the last pay period ending in June, including working proprietors and partners. Down 0.5% on a year earlier.
Link to this figure| State or territory | People working |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | |
| Victoria | |
| Queensland | |
| Western Australia | |
| South Australia | |
| Tasmania | |
| Australian Capital Territory | |
| Northern Territory |
Thousands of people working for retail businesses in the last pay period ending in June, including working proprietors, from ABS Australian Industry. Ranked by that count. Only significant businesses with 20 or more employees operating in more than one state report state data to the ABS. Figures for other surveyed businesses are apportioned across states using tax data on wages, and very small non-employing businesses are counted in their main state. The ABS warns that state and territory estimates can be inaccurate due to under or over representation of some states in the selected sample. The Northern Territory estimate has a relative standard error of 10% to less than 25% and should be used with caution.
Link to this chart| Business size | People working |
|---|---|
| 0 to 4 employees | |
| 5 to 19 employees | |
| 20 to 199 employees | |
| 200 or more employees |
Thousands of people working for retail businesses at the end of June, including working proprietors. Businesses are grouped by their number of employees, and the smallest group includes businesses with no employees.
Link to this chartInvestment in equipment and buildings
What retail businesses spent on new assets during the year, from the ABS Australian Industry release. Plant, machinery and equipment includes motor vehicles. This release does not break the spending down by type of equipment.
$4,956 million
spent by retail businesses on plant, machinery and equipment, including motor vehicles
Capital expenditure in current prices, before deducting trade-ins. It was $5,436 million in 2023-24 and $5,932 million in 2022-23.
Link to this figure$14,160 million
total capital expenditure by retail businesses
Current prices. Covers plant, machinery and equipment, buildings and structures, and other assets including land and intangible assets. Disposals of assets were $1,388 million, an estimate the ABS says has a relative standard error of 10% to less than 25% and should be used with caution.
Link to this figure| Type of asset | Capital expenditure ($m) |
|---|---|
| Other assets, including land and intangible assets | |
| Plant, machinery and equipment | |
| Dwellings, buildings and other structures |
Millions of dollars in current prices, for every asset type the ABS publishes. Other assets include land, software and other intangible assets.
Link to this chartRetail companies in external administration
How many retail companies enter liquidation, administration or restructuring, or have a receiver appointed, and the causes of failure their external administrators report. These figures cover companies only, not unincorporated businesses. The yearly counts are ASIC's counts of companies entering external administration for the first time. The causes and sizes come from initial reports by external administrators and receivers, a separate count. ASIC says these reports are lodged only where the administrator suspects an offence, negligence or other misconduct, or, in a liquidation, expects a low return to unsecured creditors, so they describe those reported cases rather than every failed retail company.
1,006
retail companies entered external administration or had a controller appointed for the first time
ASIC Series 1, by industry division. The count for 2024-25 was 871.
Link to this figure229
retail companies entered external administration or had a controller appointed for the first time, a provisional count
Provisional: ASIC shades the September 2026 figures as provisional and they may change.
Link to this figure212
retail companies entered external administration or had a controller appointed for the first time
ASIC Series 1, final figures.
Link to this figure| Financial year | Companies |
|---|---|
| 2021-22 | |
| 2022-23 | |
| 2023-24 | |
| 2024-25 | |
| 2025-26 |
Retail companies entering external administration or having a controller appointed for the first time, ASIC Series 1. Table 1.2 starts in July 2021.
Link to this chart673
initial reports by external administrators and receivers of retail companies in ASIC's statistics
Reports lodged for retail trade companies. ASIC says these reports are lodged only where it appears to the external administrator or receiver that a relevant person may have committed an offence, been negligent or engaged in misconduct, or, in a liquidation only, that unsecured creditors may get 50 cents or less in the dollar.
Link to this figure69.2%
of initial reports on retail companies were for companies in the smallest employee size band ASIC uses
Companies with fewer than 5 full-time equivalent employees: 466 of 673 reports. The number of employees was not known for 15.7% of reports. Covers only companies with an initial report, which ASIC requires only in some external administrations.
Link to this figure56.2%
of initial reports on retail companies nominated trading losses as a cause of failure
Administrators can nominate more than one cause in each report. Covers only companies with an initial report, which ASIC requires only in some external administrations.
Link to this figure55.3%
of initial reports on retail companies nominated inadequate cash flow or high cash use as a cause of failure
Administrators can nominate more than one cause in each report. Covers only companies with an initial report, which ASIC requires only in some external administrations.
Link to this figure| Cause of failure | Share of reports (%) |
|---|---|
| Trading losses | |
| Inadequate cash flow or high cash use | |
| Poor strategic management of business | |
| Other | |
| Poor financial control including lack of records | |
| Under capitalisation | |
| Poor economic conditions | |
| Poor management of accounts receivable | |
| Business restructuring | |
| Fraud | |
| Dispute among directors | |
| Industry restructuring | |
| Natural disaster | |
| Deed of company arrangement failed |
Percentage of initial external administrators' and receivers' reports on retail companies nominating each cause, for every cause in ASIC's table. These reports are lodged only in some external administrations, so the shares describe reported cases only. More than one cause can be nominated in each report, so the shares add to more than 100.
Link to this chart| State or territory | Reports |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | |
| Victoria | |
| Queensland | |
| Western Australia | |
| South Australia | |
| Australian Capital Territory | |
| Tasmania | |
| Northern Territory |
Initial external administrators' and receivers' reports on retail companies, by the company's principal place of business. These are counts of reports, not of companies entering external administration, and reports are lodged only in some external administrations.
Link to this chartCommon questions
How many retail businesses are there in Australia?
The ABS counts 156,143 retail businesses actively trading. Over the year, 24,568 joined the count and 24,443 left it. The chart of retail businesses by type above shows the largest kinds of retailer.
How big is the retail industry in Australia?
Retail businesses earned $660,121 million in sales and service income and produced $128,427 million in industry value added, the value they added after the cost of goods and other inputs. They paid $68,231 million in wages and salaries.
How many people work in retail in Australia?
The ABS Labour Force Survey estimates 1,313.2 thousand people had their main job in retail. A separate ABS count of people working for retail businesses at the end of June, including working proprietors, is 1,493.8 thousand .
How many retail workers are part time?
The ABS Labour Force Survey estimates 649.0 thousand people worked part time in retail and 652.8 thousand worked full time. These are original estimates, not seasonally adjusted.
Which state has the most retail workers?
New South Wales, followed by Victoria and Queensland, by the ABS count of people working for retail businesses at the end of June. The chart by state and territory above shows each state.
What is the latest retail turnover figure for Australia?
The ABS has stopped its monthly Retail Trade publication. Its experimental estimate from household card spending puts retail turnover at 40,037.6 million dollars , including cafes, restaurants and takeaway food. The ABS says to use these experimental figures with caution.
How many retail businesses close each year?
24,443 retail businesses left the ABS count of trading businesses over the year, though not every exit is a closure. Of the retail businesses trading at the start of the ABS period, 56.5% were still trading at its end.
How many retail companies go insolvent in Australia?
ASIC counts 1,006 retail companies entering external administration or having a controller appointed for the first time. In the latest quarter, a provisional 229 did, compared with 212 in the same quarter a year earlier.
Why do retail companies fail?
Among retail companies with an initial report from their external administrator or receiver, trading losses were nominated as a cause of failure in 56.2% of reports and inadequate cash flow or high cash use in 55.3% . ASIC requires these reports only in some external administrations, such as where misconduct is suspected, so they do not cover every failed retail company. More than a single cause can be nominated in each report, and the causes chart above shows every cause in ASIC's table.
How much do retailers spend on equipment?
Retail businesses spent $4,956 million on plant, machinery and equipment, including motor vehicles, out of $14,160 million in total capital expenditure.
Using these figures
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How these figures are put together
Every figure on this page comes from the published source linked beside it and applies to the period shown with it. Figures are copied as published. Nothing is estimated, adjusted or combined from different sources.
Each figure is checked against its source when the page is reviewed, and the review date is shown at the top of the page. If a source publishes a newer figure before then, or you spot an error, let us know through the contact page.
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, July 2022 to June 2026 (data cube 1). ABS Business Register, built from Australian Business Register and ATO data. ANZSIC division G, retail trade, in data cube 1, tables 1 to 3, released 18 August 2026. Updates: Annual. Industry division counts are released each August. Industry class detail for June 2026 is due on 18 December 2026. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, July 2021 to June 2025 (data cube 2). ANZSIC classes 3911 to 4320 in the retail trade division, data cube 2, Table 1, released 16 December 2025. Updates: Annual. Industry class detail is released each December. The June 2026 edition is due on 18 December 2026. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Australian Industry, 2024-25 financial year. ABS Economic Activity Survey and ATO Business Activity Statement data. Data cube 81550DO001 (tables 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7) and time series spreadsheet 81550TSSDIVG (retail trade), released 19 June 2026. Updates: Annual. The ABS lists the next release date as unknown. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Monthly Household Spending Indicator, August 2026 (Table 19, experimental estimates of retail turnover). Experimental estimates built from household credit and debit card transactions supplied by participating banks, with an adjustment for cash, spliced to Retail Trade survey levels at January 2022. Released 29 September 2026. The ABS ceased its Retail Trade, Australia publication with the June 2025 issue, and its Monthly Business Turnover Indicator with the September 2025 issue, and points readers to the Monthly Household Spending Indicator for retail turnover. Updates: Monthly. The September 2026 issue is due on 4 November 2026. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Labour Force, Australia, September 2026. ABS Labour Force Survey. Table 020, employed persons by industry division of main job, and Table 021_QTR, by state, territory and industry, quarterly data for August 2026, released 15 October 2026. Updates: Monthly. Quarterly industry figures are for February, May, August and November; the November 2026 figures are due on 17 December 2026. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC): Australian insolvency statistics, Series 1 and Series 2, published 26 October 2026. Forms lodged with ASIC by external administrators and controllers, data to 11 October 2026. Series 1 counts the first time a company enters external administration or has a controller appointed. Table 1.2, by industry division. Updates: Weekly. Recent figures are provisional until ASIC removes the shading. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC): Insolvency statistics Series 3.2: External administrators' and receivers' reports for selected industries, 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 (retail trade tables). Initial statutory reports lodged with ASIC by external administrators and receivers of retail trade companies, tables 3.2.4.1 and 3.2.4.2, released December 2025. ASIC Information Sheet 80 says these reports are lodged only where misconduct may have occurred or, in a liquidation, unsecured creditors may get 50 cents or less in the dollar. Updates: Annual. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
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