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 have bounced back with a 3.64 per cent growth from the previous week, which saw a decline of 1.52 per cent.

The biggest surge came from the furniture and homewares sector with a 12.07 per cent lift from the previous week – interestingly, this traditionally predictable sector has seen some volatility in the last two months, but overall results have been positive.

The fashion and accessories category was the only sector which recorded a drop in sales from the previous week, with a 6.47 per cent decline.

This was unexpected given the same week in 2014 (normally a good indicator of what to expect this year) recorded a positive lift of more than eight per cent.