Episode 26 of the Retail Scoreboard delivers a full December 2025 Christmas and Boxing Day trading review, using anonymised data from 100+ Australian retailers to unpack how the peak period really performed.

This episode breaks down like-for-like growth across December, examining sales, units, transactions, margins and discounting to understand where growth came from — and where it didn't. While overall December sales finished up around 3%, the data shows a very uneven performance beneath the surface.

The discussion explores:

• Channel performance, with online delivering double-digit growth while standalone stores struggled to gain momentum

• Timing effects, including a late Christmas lift and a heavy reliance on Boxing Day to recover lost ground

• State-by-state results, highlighting softness across most regions and stronger outcomes in WA

• Discounting behaviour, revealing a clear two-channel strategy — markdown-led growth online and largely full-price trading in stores

• Physical retail pressure, with over half of physical stores recording a sales decline for the month

• Results vs expectations, showing that the majority of brands and stores missed their December targets

The episode closes by zooming out to a quarter and year-to-date view, reinforcing the structural shift toward online and the growing challenge of driving meaningful growth through physical stores during key trading periods.

Want full access to The Retail Score Index and the complete Christmas trading insights?
Visit www.theretailscore.com

In this episode, Wayne Rigney, Co-Founder of The Retail Score, dives straight into the Black Friday 2025 results, breaking down how this year's event performed across the Australian retail sector. Using anonymised data from more than 100 leading retailers, he unpacks category winners, discounting trends, shifts in consumer behaviour, and where the biggest growth, and surprises, showed up.

Wayne then zooms out to analyse the broader November 2025 trading results, revealing how the month tracked overall, which sectors outperformed, and the key dynamics shaping retail performance heading into peak season.

To finish, he shares predictions for the Christmas trading period, examining the indicators that matter most — from demand signals and promotional depth to stock availability and consumer sentiment.

Want full access to The Retail Score Index and the insights from this episode? Visit www.theretailscore.com to get involved.

In this episode, Wayne Rigney, Co-Founder of The Retail Score, breaks down the October 2025 trading results across the Australian retail sector. Drawing on anonymised data from over 100 leading retailers, he explores the key factors driving the month's 3% year-on-year sales growth and what it means heading into the busiest period of the year.

Wayne also takes a deep dive into Black Friday, analysing early performance indicators, consumer behaviour shifts, and predictions for how this year's event will unfold. From discounting trends to category performance, he unpacks where retailers are finding opportunities — and where caution may be needed.

Want full access to The Retail Score Index and the insights from this episode? Visit www.theretailscore.com to get involved.