In a turbulent week for retailers across the country, retail sales growth has dropped for the second straight week, with overall retail sales showing a 2.85 per cent decrease from the previous week.

The sporting and recreational goods sector suffered a drop in growth of 5.96 per cent which compounds the 10.72 per cent decline seen in this sector the previous week.

The results weren’t all bad news however, as furniture and homewares sales growth lifted by 6.66 per cent, and fashion and accessories sales growth improved by 3.63 per cent from the previous week.

Based on results from 2014, the market should see a return to positive growth in the coming few weeks.