Accounting for nearly 20 per cent of economic activity in Australia, retail sales are critically important to fill the gap left by the slowdown in mining investment.
Woolworths has enjoyed a three per cent sales increase despite subdued retail conditions, with its supermarkets, petrol stations and hardware stores posting gains.
The grocery industry has warned that a price war between the nation's big two supermarket chains could hurt consumers in the long run if food suppliers don't have money to invest in their businesses.
Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder says Australia's supermarket trade is not a duopoly controlled by Coles and Woolworths and online retailer Amazon is a far greater threat to local retailing.
Wesfarmers has reported generally positive quarterly sales results from its retail businesses, with Bunnings achieving the most rapid growth while Coles' supermarkets and liquor stores lifted turno
Fremantle Ports is hoping to revive the stalled $350 million revamp of Victoria Quay, part of nearly $1 billion of proposed new developments in the City of Fremantle.
Retail giant Woolworths has appealed to the Western Australian government to deregulate the state's shopping hours, while urging them to repeal laws which regulate what times cigarettes, pantyhose and needles can be sold in petrol stations.
Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey's annual pay remained steady at $1.03 million last financial year, as the company's profit dropped by 17.5 per cent.
ALDI’s imminent arrival in WA and continuing competition between the retail majors has sidelined many retail developers who just can’t pay the big prices Coles and Woolworths will shell out for new sites.
The arrival of a clutch of new international brands in coming years has the potential to rejuvenate the city retail sector, which has been hit by softer spending and the extended shopping hours at suburban centres.
Myer chief executive Bernie Brookes has criticised high wages costs and the GST as the department store's full year profit fell by 8.7 per cent to $127.2 million.
Westfield Group looks set to offload its stake in two major shopping centres in suburban Perth just days after it was given the green light to increase ownership of the Karrinyup centre.
Cash Converters is seeking to raise $50 million to $60 million through an issue of corporate bonds to repay part of the group's existing debt and to fund further investments.
Consumer confidence in Western Australia has plunged because of political uncertainty at the federal level and following a belt-tightening state budget, a survey shows.
Western Australia’s retail sector is showing the strain of the slowing state economy, with consumer spending falling for the first time since April 2010.
Electrical and homewares retailer Harvey Norman's full year profit has fallen 17.5 per cent amid dwindling sales across its Australian and European businesses.
