Retail

Retailers enjoyed a buoyant sales period during April compared to a year earlier, but ballooning inflation is eating into business operations.

DoorDash and the Transport Workers' Union have signed an agreement that sets out how Australia can ensure safety and fairness for contract or so-called gig workers.

The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and event cancellations has pushed Perth streetwear brand Live Clothing into liquidation, with owners hoping to find a buyer to save the business.

The cash rate could be expected to rise over time to 2.5 per cent, RBA governor Philip Lowe has said, while the central bank forecasts inflation could get worse before it gets better.

Inflated flower costs and nearly two years without large-scale events have forced prominent Perth florist Matthew Landers to shut his business after 15 years in operation.

Inflation in Perth has hit the highest level since 1990 at 7.6 per cent, with rising homebuilding costs a key contributor.

Mexican fast food chain Mad Mex holds tight to its WA expansion plan amid five of its restaurants across Perth closing this week.

The unemployment rate among women in Western Australia is just 3 per cent, the lowest since 2008, with the state posting a sharp improvement in the jobless rate in March.

Five Mexican fast food chain restaurants in Perth have closed their doors after liquidators were called in yesterday.

Consumers are pessimistic about the state's economy, with confidence dropping nearly 10 per cent in April.

Retail sales took a battering in Western Australia in February, down 2.9 per cent.

Almost 25 years after rapper The Notorious B.I.G. released hit Mo Money Mo Problems, the song title may serve as a cautionary warning for central bankers.

Wesfarmers is one step closer to completing its acquisition of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries after securing shareholder approval.

The state's jobless rate will stay below 4 per cent until at least 2024, CCIWA predicts.

WA's internal economy grew just 0.1 per cent in the December quarter as spending on mining equipment slowed, while national GDP rose 3.4 per cent.

Retail spending in Western Australia jumped 4.7 per cent month-on-month in January, while interstate consumers showed some caution.

Cash Converters has booked stronger revenues for the half-year despite losing a quarter of its trading days to the pandemic, but a revaluation of its stores has hindered the Perth-founded franchise's bottom line.

Woolworths has posted lower first-half profit while its boss warned prices will keep moving higher due to inflation.

Coles has delivered a 2 per cent drop in profit as higher costs and lower convenience store sales hit half-year results.

Super Retail Group has had first-half profit dive 35 per cent and warns higher freight and transport costs will continue to affect margins.

Wesfarmers says roughly 34,000 trading days across its stores were affected by pandemic restrictions, resulting in a 14 per cent profit fall and a leaner dividend.

The AMWU will take an ongoing labour dispute with The West Australian to advertisers JB Hi-Fi and the Good Guys today, as a lockout of newspaper printers nears two weeks.

An Instagram post by influencer Khloe Kardashian using Mermade Hair's signature waver led to the biggest ever monthly sales for the Mt Lawley-based e-commerce business.

The competition watchdog has given freight companies special permission to cooperate to get groceries into WA and the NT, after supply chains broke down.

The rail line between WA and the east coast is open after being closed for a record 24 days, but supermarket shelves could take four to six weeks to be restocked.

Australia's competition regulator has given the all clear for Wesfarmers to acquire Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, a key condition needed to close the deal.

Shortages on Perth supermarket shelves could last until late March, although the reconnection of the state's rail link with the east is now expected next week.

Easing of lockdown restrictions and a splurge by festive season shoppers have helped retail sales jump by a record 8.2 per cent in the December quarter.

WA shoppers will be subjected to product limits at major supermarkets after floods in South Australia disrupted supply chains, leaving some shelves empty.

The state government is expecting to implement a ‘land bridge' in coming days to transport products from the east coast to WA after railways in SA were damaged by floods.

Retail sales fell 3.5 per cent in Western Australia in December, amid a soft month across the nation as Omicron hit.

Food suppliers and supermarkets are scrambling to find ways to get produce to WA, after it was announced flood-damaged rail lines in SA could take at least 12 days to be repaired.