Sydney (Tribune International Report): Consumers shopped up a storm in the rush to buy Christmas gifts with figures confirming $7.6 billion went through NSW cash registers in December.
Treasurer Andrew Constance said the latest ABS figures show NSW retail trade increased 6.9 per cent over the past year – the highest of all the States.
“NSW retailers enjoyed their best Christmas yet, trading $7.6 billion in December – around a third of what was spent across the entire country,” Mr Constance said.
“NSW has recorded 14 straight months as the number one mainland State for annual growth in retail trade, demonstrating the confidence consumers have in the economy under the NSW Liberals & Nationals”, Mr. Constance said.
He said, ‘As the CommSec State of the States report confirmed last month, NSW is back at the top of the pile as the number one State economy.’
NSW is on the top in retail trade in Australia and in housing approvals with over 51,000 homes approved in 2014. NSW has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation.
“Our policies have helped to create over 145,000 jobs since April 2011. This follows a decade under the previous Labor government during which NSW had the lowest employment growth of any state but we all know this will be put at risk by NSW Labor, who are the biggest economic threat to NSW”, Mr. Constance said.
