Retail

Credit and debit card data has given an early indicator of how last week’s lockdown influenced spending in Western Australia, down 3.3 per cent against the same week in 2020.

Recently-listed candle retailer Dusk will pay back more than 1,500 current and former employees, following a payroll error.

WA’s peak business body has backed the state government’s snap move for a five day lockdown, but the national retail industry association was less impressed.

Prices in Perth deflated 1 per cent in the December quarter, thanks to the government’s electricity credit, but there’s an underlying upward pressure.

The company behind franchises Just Jeans, Smiggle and Peter Alexander expects its first-half earnings to rise by as much as 85 per cent following a spike in online sales.

Car sales in WA were stronger than anywhere else in Australia in 2020, aside from the ACT, although they were still down on the prior year.

The internet’s influence on retail has accelerated during periods of pandemic lockdown.

Australian retailer Kogan.com has been found guilty of misleading consumers by falsely claiming to offer a discount on some items, as part of a four-day promotion.

There’s reason to be optimistic about the state’s economic recovery in 2021, with a skills shortage looming as a potential challenge.