Western Australia has just missed its projected Christmas retail sales target for 2008 as the national figure climbed 2 per cent compared to the previous year.
Research by the Australian Retailers Association showed Western Australians spent $3.95 billion in December, missing the $4 billion forecast target.
WA joined the likes of Tasmania, which reached $776 million in sales and the Northern Territory ($369 million) which slipped below estimated figures.
New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia all reached their targets with NSW recording $12 billion.
Nationally, Australians spent $37 billion in December, spurred by the federal government's stimulus package.
In 2007, $36.5 billion was spent in December.
ARA executive director Richard Evans said the 2 per cent increase was a great outcome.
"Considering all the negativity about the economy in the market in October and November, by the last two weeks of December, Australians were more confident about gift giving with reduced petrol prices, lowering interest rates and the Rudd Government's cash bonus," Mr Evans said.
"From our research, we are also seeing a new type of consumer emerge - a more thrifty, credit-savvy, saving consumer. The lessons learnt from being burdened with high levels of credit card debt will mean in 2009 consumers will be in a much better cash position than we have seen previously.
"Over Christmas retailers saw more lay-bys being used as shoppers tried to avoid the hangover debt in February when bills are received. This all adds up to a healthier, guilt-free Australian consumer who will be ready to open up the purse strings in the coming months.
"As long as employment in the economy remains stable (and we must remember full employment is measured at five percent) retailers will remain optimistic of growth returning to the sector in April with significant growth expected from July. We ask all employers, not just retailers, to retain their staff for the sake of the economy," Evans said.
