RETAIL SALES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18920, 23 January 1936, Page 15

RETAIL SALES

AUSTRALIAN FIGURES G PER CENT INCREASE SYDNEY, dan. 15. For the 11 months of 1935, ended November 30 retail sales showed an increase, of 6 per cent, upon those for the corresponding period of 1934. Commenting upon this increase, the Retail Traders' Association of New South Wales states that, while this movement might appear small in comparison with gains made by other sections of business, it must, be. remembered thai, the retail trade did not suffer to the same extent, sn the early stages of the depression as did the building trade or the motor i'ndustry. :ind any comparison of increase must, be relative.

Total net profits <jf 19 retail companies in Sydney increased from £351.C00 in 1934 'to £498,000 in 1935. bail, while this represents a gain of more than 40 per cent on Ihe amount of the earlier year, it shows; actually a gain of only 1.7 per cent in the rate of profit on capital. In 1935-the 19 stores averaged a, return, of 5.7 per cent, but. taken on the last live years, the return averages, only' 3 per cent.

In the statistics compiled by the association from returns of 28 Sidney stores, value of slock was higher for the 11 moid list last year by 1.8 per cent. while -wages and salaries paid in that period improved by 4.3 per cent, on those for the corresponding period of 1934. Employment was higher, the average number of hands being 5.5 per cent on the. year.

For tiie month of November, sales were 9.5 per cent, higher than during November the -previous year. Several sections of retail trade having shown improvements of as much as 20 per cent. Total remuneration paid was 4.7 per cent, higher than in November, 10i4, while the average number of employees was 5.8 per cent, greater.