Inside Retail presents the Australian Retail Index.

The index gives a quick overview of retail statistics in four key categories; fashion and accessories, furniture and homewares, sporting and recreational, and other.

Key retail statistics are shown weekly, with yearly comparisons available.

The growth in overall retail sales moved into positive territory last week with the Index posting a 2.5 per cent upward swing.

Sporting and recreational goods and furniture and homewares recorded positive movement of over 10 per cent each, showing that there is plenty of health in retail in the lead up to Christmas.

The only disappointing negative result was fashion and accessories which showed a negative result for the second week in a row.