Retail recovery continues
As consumers begin to regain their retail confidence nationwide, it’s evident that green shoots of recovery have also begun in the Rockingham and Mandurah area.
National retail sales jumped 0.5 per cent in May, with WA retail figures performing even better.
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, a 1.1 per cent sales increase was recorded for the month.
Crystals Surf Baldivis owner Richard Taylor said he had noticed consumer confidence returning to the area in recent times.
‘‘I can only speak for this area but it’s such a high growth area because of what’s going on around us in terms of population increases, so we really can’t have anything but an increase in our turnover, ’’ he said.
‘‘Since December to now, each month has been a growth on the previous month.
‘‘When the GFC hit most shops in a highly populated area like Rockingham were expecting 5 per cent growth each year, they were dropping down to 25 per cent decreases.’’
Mr Taylor said business was still tight but was optimistic for the future.
‘‘In a new area like Baldivis we’re expecting 30 per cent growth per annum but because of the GFC we sort of hung tight, but now we’re seeing the back end of that and we’re starting to see that big growth again,’’ he said.
