Australian retail sales flat in April amid Donald Trump’s tariff chaos

Australian shoppers are in a holding pattern as they await the fallout from US President Donald Trump’s tariff chaos, fresh data suggests.

New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Friday showed retail turnover fell 0.1 per cent in April, following respective 0.3 per cent and 0.2 per cent growth readings in March and February.

Market consensus was for 0.3 per cent growth.

“Retail spending eased in April, particularly on clothing purchases,” ABS head of business statistics Robert Ewing said.

“Falls were partly offset by a bounce-back in Queensland as businesses recovered from the negative impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred last month.”

More to come.