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.

Retail Sales across the country held steady last week with the growth indicator showing a marginal 0.01 per cent increase from last week.

This is a significantly better result than that seen in the same week last year, where there was a 12.29 per cent decrease in sales performance.

The overall result last week was influenced by positive growth of 12.50 per cent in the other general retail category, which offset losses in fashion and accessories, and furniture and homewares.

Fashion retailers will be hoping for a positive performance this week, given this is two weeks in a row with negative results.