The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the figures on Friday: Prior to the release, economists were predicting a rise of 0.4%, after the ABS released preliminary figures halfway through March with this result. 

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

Provider

4000$product[$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

High Interest Savings Account (< $250k)

  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
020001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • $0 monthly account fee
  • Dip into your savings without losing your bonus interest

Home Saver

  • $0 monthly account fee
  • Dip into your savings without losing your bonus interest
02000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
No monthly fees
  • Download the App to open your account
  • Get better visibility of your spending within App!
  • Deposit $200 per month to activate bonus interest
No monthly fees

Save Account

  • Download the App to open your account
  • Get better visibility of your spending within App!
  • Deposit $200 per month to activate bonus interest
4000$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

Savings Account (Amounts < $250k)

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
020000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

HomeME Savings Account ($0 - $100,000)

    02001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Growth Saver ($1 - $25k)

      010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
      For customers aged 14-35 years
      For customers aged 14-35 years

      Future Saver Account ( < $50k)

        05001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
        • Maximum Age - 24

        Goal Saver

        • Maximum Age - 24
        010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

        Boost Saver

          00.011$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Reward Saver Account (31 years +) ($0-$100k)

            01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            Bonus Saver Account (Amounts < $100k)

              0201$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              Reward Saver Kick Start (Amounts ≤ $1m)

                00.010$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                Life (< 30 years) (Monthly deposit)

                  5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                  NetBank Saver

                    000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                    ANZ Save

                      010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      Savings Maximiser (<$100k)

                        050$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        Young Saver Account

                          0501$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                          Save up

                            010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
                            • Earn up to 5.40% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
                            • No account fees
                            • Easy access to your money

                            Saver Account (<$250k)

                            • Earn up to 5.40% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
                            • No account fees
                            • Easy access to your money
                            02000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                            Bonus Saver (<$1 Million)

                              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 March 28, 2024. View disclaimer.

                              Ben James, ABS Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys, said there was no doubt coronavirus had taken a toll on a range of businesses, but this had been offset by strong performers elsewhere.

                              "Retailers reported a range of impacts from COVID-19 in February, with increases in food retailing slightly offset by falls in more discretionary spending," Mr James said.

                              There were rises for: 

                              • food retailing (0.8%),
                              • department stores (3.1%),
                              • households goods retailing (0.7%),
                              • cafes, restaurants and takeaway services (0.2%),
                              • and other retailing (0.2%).

                              These rises were partially offset by a fall in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-2.9%),

                              Westpac economist Matthew Hassan said although the figures were positive, the impact of COVID-19 was yet to be seen in these results.

                              "At 1.8%yr, annual growth was still sluggish overall, the slowest pace since late 2017," Mr Hassan said.

                              "More generally, disruptions to retail are clearly set to be much larger in March and April with the lockdown set to produce steep falls in some segments that will be offset to further stockpiling demand for basics and health related items but the a sharp contraction overall, particularly as we move through the June quarter."

                              The Morrison Government had not yet enacted the sweeping lockdowns on gatherings and hospitality industries in February.

                              Additionally, March saw major retailers such as Myer, Country Road and Peter Alexander temporarily shut their doors, to name just a few.

                              The tourism industry has also been hit hard, with tens of thousands of workers stood down by QANTAS, Virgin and Flight Centre. 

                              Across the states, Western Australia recorded the biggest rise in retail turnover of 1.2%, closely followed by the Australian Capital Territory (1.1%), Queensland (0.8%) and Victoria (0.5%).

                              Tasmania and New South Wales were relatively unchanged, while the Northern Territory fell a sharp 0.7%. 

                              Online retail turnover contributed 6.6% to total retail turnover, up from 5.6% in February of last year. 

                              NAB reports a rapid increase in online retail sales

                              The NAB Online Retail Sales Index expanded rapidly in February (1.6%) on a month-on-month, seasonally adjusted basis, after a slight contraction in January (-0.3%).

                              In year-on-year terms, the growth in the NAB Online Retail Sales Index accelerated (+14.5% y/y s.a.) in February, and it continues to outpace the broader ABS retail sales series.

                              Grocery and liquor recorded the highest growth in February, while the largest spend share category, homewares and appliances, went against the broader trend and contracted, albeit mildly, in the month.

                              NAB Chief Economist Alan Oster said the strong result was likely a side-effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

                              "It’s worth noting that sales for this category [grocery and liquor], while up 22.7% on the same period 2019, were also up over 17% on January sales," Mr Oster said.

                              "It is likely that panic buying in February provided an additional boost to an already rapidly growing category."

                              Mr Oster said in month-on-month terms, all states and territories except Western Australia and Tasmania recorded sales growth, with New South Wales the strongest performer. 

                              "The three most populous states represent just over 80% of all online sales, slightly above their share of the population," he said.

                              "Of these three states, online sales growth in NSW grew most rapidly, rebounding after a sales contraction in January followed by Queensland.

                              "A key driver of NSW growth in February was grocery and liquor (+9.7% mom, s.a.), which was well above national result for the category."