This is according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

"The result was driven by a fall of 12.6 per cent in Victoria," said Ben James, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys.

"Victoria saw large falls across all industries except food retailing, as Stage 3 and 4 restrictions saw many businesses unable to trade from their physical stores in August."

While the falls were largest in Victoria, there were also falls in most other states. Retail trade across the rest of Australia (excluding Victoria) fell 1.5% from July 2020 to August 2020, suggesting the initial COVID shopping boom has ended. 

Need somewhere to store cash and earn interest? The table below features savings accounts with some of the highest non-introductory and introductory interest rates on the market.

Provider

4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure

Macquarie Savings Account (<$250k)

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure
4001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
Disclosure

Rabobank High Interest Savings Account (<$250k)

  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
Disclosure
000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit $500 per month to get bonus interest
  • 5.50% p.a. available on total savings up to $100k.
  • 5.00% p.a. applies to savings between $100k-250K.
  • Tiered bonus rates apply. (TMDs at ubank.com.au)
Disclosure

Save Account

  • Deposit $500 per month to get bonus interest
  • 5.50% p.a. available on total savings up to $100k.
  • 5.00% p.a. applies to savings between $100k-250K.
  • Tiered bonus rates apply. (TMDs at ubank.com.au)
Disclosure
400$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

Savings Accelerator

    02501$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
    • $0 monthly account fee
    • Grow your balance by $250 each month to qualify for bonus interest
    • Bonus Interest Tracker via the app
    Disclosure

    Future Saver

    • $0 monthly account fee
    • Grow your balance by $250 each month to qualify for bonus interest
    • Bonus Interest Tracker via the app
    Disclosure
    Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

    All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of September 18, 2024. View disclaimer.

    Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

    Household items led much of the decline in trade figures but still remains 20% above the levels of August 2019.

    Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing, department stores, and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services all had large falls, to be expected considering Victoria's lockdowns. Food retailing also recorded a small fall. 

    The results come off the back of a higher than expected 3.3% rise in July and three months of extreme volatility that led to two record monthly gains and one record monthly decline of 17.9%.

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    Source: ABS