Australian retail continues to show signs of recovery, posting year on year growth of 5.7 per cent for March 2014, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The positive result comes off the back of several significant year on year rises, with Australian retail turnover growing 4.8 per cent in February and 6.2 per cent in January.

Total retail spending for the month came in at $23.1 billion, while volume was valued at $67.5 billion.

Month on month turnover for Australian retailers in the month of March 2014 rose 0.1 per cent on February 2014, seasonally adjusted.

The greatest category increase in March across retail was witnessed by cafes, restaurants, and takeaway food services, which grew 1.1 per cent; followed by food retailing, which saw 0.5 per cent growth.

These rises were partially offset by falls in other retailing of 1.1 per cent; household goods retailing, 0.3 per cent; clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing, 0.3 per cent; and department stores, 0.1 per cent.

Turnover rose in NSW and Tasmania by 0.8 per cent; Queensland by 0.2 per cent; and the Northern Territory by 0.1 per cent.

States to experience a drop in March 2014 include Western Australia, 0.9 per cent; South Australia and ACT, 0.8 per cent; and Victoria 0.2 per cent.