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

3000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]Go to site
  • Intro rate for 3 months up to $50k, then 5.30% p.a. on paid Ultra plan up to $250k
  • No deposit or withdrawal conditions. New to Revolut customers for a limited time. Open savings account within 1 month of joining.
  • Total Interest Earned shown is for illustrative purposes and is based on monthly compounding. Actual Interest Earned will be higher from interest compounding daily instead of monthly.
Disclosure

Instant Access Savings Account ($0 - $50,000)

  • Intro rate for 3 months up to $50k, then 5.30% p.a. on paid Ultra plan up to $250k
  • No deposit or withdrawal conditions. New to Revolut customers for a limited time. Open savings account within 1 month of joining.
  • Total Interest Earned shown is for illustrative purposes and is based on monthly compounding. Actual Interest Earned will be higher from interest compounding daily instead of monthly.
Disclosure
0000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]Go to site
  • Government backed protection.
  • $0 monthly account keeping fees.
  • 100% Australian-based support.
Disclosure

Personal Savings Account

  • Government backed protection.
  • $0 monthly account keeping fees.
  • 100% Australian-based support.
Disclosure
0000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]Go to site
  • No account keeping fees
  • There’s no interest or fee penalties when you need to withdraw your money
  • Keep track of your savings goals with alerts and our mobile app
Disclosure

Flex Saver

  • No account keeping fees
  • There’s no interest or fee penalties when you need to withdraw your money
  • Keep track of your savings goals with alerts and our mobile app
Disclosure
4001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]Go to site
Disclosure

High Interest Savings Account (<$250k)

    Disclosure
    Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning
    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