After 30 episodes, this is our last ever episode of The Retail Scoreboard Podcast.

April delivered the data we've been watching for, and it's a fitting note to end on. The underlying story of Australian retail continues to shift, and the April scoreboard tells us exactly where things are heading.

In this final episode, we break down the April results and reflect on the journey of decoding the data with you each month.

What we cover:

• April performance: The headline numbers vs the underlying reality
• Channel breakdown: How stores, outlets, concessions and online stacked up
• Discounting and margin pressure: Where the squeeze tightened
• Consumer behaviour: Transaction values, units per basket, and what shoppers prioritised
• The macro backdrop: Interest rates, cost-of-living and confidence heading into the new financial year
• What's next for Australian retail: Our final read on where the sector is heading

And most importantly — a huge thank you.

To every listener who tuned in, shared an episode, sent us feedback or used the data to make smarter calls in their business — thank you. This podcast started as a way to cut through the noise and give Australian retail an honest, data-led read each month. The fact that so many of you came along for the ride means everything.

The Retail Score isn't going anywhere. The data, the insights and the index will continue — just in new formats. Stay close.

Tune in for one last breakdown.

Retail is holding… until it isn't.

March delivered modest growth on paper, but the underlying story tells a very different picture.

In this episode of The Retail Scoreboard Podcast, we break down the March data and unpack why the final weeks of the month saw a sharp shift in momentum across Australian retail.

What we cover:

• March performance:
Like-for-like sales up just 1%, with unit growth (+0.6%) and transactions (+2%) doing the heavy lifting
Discounting increased significantly (+4.1%), putting pressure on margins
Average transaction value and units per transaction both declined

• The real story — the last 2 weeks:
Significant declines across stores, outlets and concessions
Online growth driven largely by heavy discounting
Momentum dropped off sharply heading into month-end

• Channel breakdown:
Outlets and standalone stores led early in the month
Concessions and online remained soft overall
Afterpay sales week underperformed vs last year

• What's driving it:
Fuel prices rising sharply through March
Interest rate increases mid-month
Consumer confidence continuing to fall
Cost-of-living pressure accelerating

• What happens next:
More discounting and promotional activity
Increased focus on cost cutting and productivity
Tighter inventory management
Potential store closures for underperforming locations

The key takeaway?
This isn't a short-term dip. The next 4–6 weeks will be critical in shaping retail sentiment as we move into the new financial year.

Listen to the full episode for a deeper breakdown of the data and what it means for your business.

Episode 28 of The Retail Scoreboard unpacks the February 2026 retail results, the growing global pressures shaping Australian retail, and reflects on 10 years of The Retail Score.

Using anonymised data from 100+ retailers, the February scoreboard reveals a retail environment that remains fragile beneath the surface.

Like-for-like sales lifted 1.2%, but once again the growth story is being driven by price rather than demand. Unit sales fell 2.6% and transactions declined 1.1%, signalling continued softness in consumer activity.

Gross profit dollars rose 2.9%, with GP% up 1 point, while average selling prices increased 3.9%. This pushed average transaction value up 2.4%, highlighting how pricing continues to carry retail performance.

Across channels, online remained the standout, growing 5.5%, with outlets also strong at 5.7%. Concessions delivered modest growth of 1.2%, while standalone stores slipped into decline at –0.4%, reinforcing the ongoing pressure on physical retail.

State performance was mixed, with TAS and WA leading growth, while NSW, VIC and QLD all recorded declines.

The episode also explores global forces now shaping retail, including geopolitical conflict, rising energy costs, interest rate pressures, and the continued impact on consumer confidence and supply chains.

To mark 10 years of The Retail Score, we also look back at the major structural shifts that have reshaped Australian retail, from the rise of e-commerce and omnichannel to global marketplaces, discounting, and the growing role of data and AI.

The conversation highlights how dramatically retail has evolved over the past decade — and what the next phase of change may look like.

For full access to The Retail Score Index and deeper insights into Australian retail performance, visit

www.theretailscore.com