Retailers becoming more positive

Western Australian retailers have a positive view of business conditions in the year ahead, according to a recent survey by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, with one third expecting an improved market in the 2018 financial year.

The latest retail insights report shows 33 per cent of the state’s retailers have a favourable outlook for the 12 months ahead, compared with just 25 per cent when the survey was held at the start of this year.

Only 12 per cent expect conditions to decline, compared with 32 per cent at the start of the year.

The majority, 55 per cent, is predicting conditions to be steady, up from 43 per cent in the previous insights report.

The numbers show WA is roughly in the middle of the pack among states when it comes to expectation for the 12 months ahead.

The research also found about 69 per cent of WA businesses would be considering recruiting new staff or spending to train existing staff.

About 500 small and medium retailers were interviewed by ACA Research in July, with turnovers between $1 million and $500 million.