Retail sectors fashion, sporting and furniture enjoyed five per cent growth compared with last year, according to the findings of Retail Express and BDO in the Australian Retail Index.

“Retailers are happily counting their tills this year with the Christmas sales trade being a success for most Australian retailers. Substantial growth was experienced across the board in most retail verticals,” said Aaron Blackman, CEO of Retail Express.

Sporting goods retail experienced the largest uplift throughout each week of December reporting  15 per cent growth on November and 14 per cent growth on December 2014.

The general retail sector which includes gift stores, health and leisure goods was second with 8 per cent growth on the same period last year.

Fashion saw an overall drop of 2 per cent for the month of December compared with last year, though the sector saw 12 per cent growth moving into December from November.

Furniture had a drop in sales of almost 8 per cent and closed the month with 1.5 per cent growth compared with December 2014.

Boxing Day sales revealed Fashion to have experienced a 18.5 per cent loss compared with the corresponding period last year. “Boxing Day sales for Fashion and Accessories was not as expected and revealed that 2014 was the bigger year for the Fashion sector,” said Blackman.

Want more Inside Retail? Subscribe to Inside Retail Weekly now and get our premium print publication delivered to your door every week.