Retail

Coles managing director Ian McLeod is set to move to a senior role with parent company Wesfarmers after six years of overseeing massive growth in the supermarket chain.

Australia's largest car and truck retailer has managed a small rise in half-year profit, as changes in its road transport operations weighed on earnings.

Upmarket retailer David Jones has increased its sales in the three months to January 25 by almost five per cent to $618 million.

The retailers best placed to benefit from a changing marketplace will be those who proactively shape products, services and experiences for and with consumers.

The resignation of David Jones chairman Peter Mason could keep chief executive Paul Zahra in his job and pave the way for merger negotiations with rival Myer.

Australia's consumer watchdog says it would investigate the impact of a potential tie-up of David Jones and Myer on competition if the department store chains decided to pursue a merger.

Woolworths achieved an additional $1.8 billion in sales during the final six months of 2013, as its supermarkets continued to attract more customers.

Australia has posted its eighth consecutive rise in retail spending, a sign that another non-mining sector of the economy is gaining strength.

Department store owner Myer says its proposed merger with rival David Jones would have created a business with more than $5 billion in sales.

Home entertainment retailer JB Hi-Fi's 10 percent profit increase has been welcomed by shareholders, adding more than $90 million to its market value.

Australia's two biggest supermarket chains Woolworths and Coles continue to punch above their weight, cementing their place among the world's top 20 retailers.

Retail sales figures have come in stronger than expected, giving the Reserve Bank of Australia confidence that the current record-low cash rate is supporting economic recovery.

Australians are expected to have spent close to $15 billion shopping online during 2013 and local retailers received most of the benefit.

Wesfarmers has announced its second significant asset sale this month, with the disposal of the Australian and New Zealand underwriting operations of its insurance business to Insurance Australia Group (IAG) for about $1.85 billion.

The days of big shopper docket fuel savings are over after Coles and Woolworths agreed to limit discounts to four cents a litre.

A lacklustre stockmarket debut by Dick Smith Holdings has drawn unfavourable comparisons with fellow retailer Myer's poor listing four years ago.

Shopping centre giant Westfield Group will split its Australian and New Zealand assets from its international business as it continues to pursue growth overseas.

Retail spending rose for the fourth month in a row as consumer confidence and recent interest rate cuts encourage Australians to spend.

Grocery wholesaler Metcash has lifted its first-half profit more than 20 per cent thanks to its exit from the Franklins line of supermarkets, but its underlyng earnings were weaker as it continued to be affected by deregulation WA and strong competition nationally.

Independent grocery group Metcash is set to finalise its first store swap in Western Australia with supermarket giant Coles.

Retailer Harvey Norman says a rise in consumer confidence since the federal election has not provided a boost in its sales.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia has forecast that the state's shoppers will spend $3.55 billion in December.

Retailer David Jones has borne the anger of shareholders, incurring a first "strike" at its annual general meeting and setting up a potential board spill.

Department store chain Myer is cautious about the year ahead as it faces increased costs and a challenging economic and consumer environment.

In a bid to spread the Christmas cheer, the state government has approved a special extension for Sunday shopping hours.

A local hospitality supply wholesaler is countering the challenge of a slowing market with a new business strategy focused on retail.

Australia's biggest supermarkets have agreed to a code of conduct governing how they deal with suppliers, providing a potential solution to long running tension between food and grocery producers and retail giants.

Electronics retailer Dick Smith hopes to raise almost $345 million by listing on the share market in December.

Shopping centre owner Westfield Group is on track to meet its income growth forecasts, despite no improvement in local retail conditions.

Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder has defended grocery giant Coles' relationship with farmers, saying the high dollar and government regulations are a weight on the agricultural sector.

Westfield Group has terminated an agreement that would have allowed it to sell the Innaloo shopping centre for $255 million to Charter Hall Group.

Retail spending continues to improve, driven by department store sales, reflecting the bounce in consumer confidence since the September federal election.