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.

After the positive growth seen in the first week of August, this week, retail sales across the board have slowed with overall retail showing a very slight 1.52 per cent drop on last week but just over two per cent growth on the same period in 2014.

Sporting and recreational goods showed an impressive jump in sales last week but slowed considerably to a 5.85 per cent drop on last week’s sales this week.

Both fashion and accessories and furniture and homewares improved on last week as predicted with a jump in sales.

Fashion and accessories in particular steamed ahead improving last week’s performance by 4.77 per cent and almost 10 per cent growth on the same period in 2014.