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

Episode 27 of the Retail Scoreboard unpacks January 2026 results and the renewed impact of inflation on Australian retail, using anonymised data from 100+ retailers to reveal what's really driving performance.

On the surface, January delivered a solid like-for-like sales lift of 2.3%. But beneath that headline number, the story is far more complex. Unit sales declined 2.7% and transactions were also down 2.7%, confirming that growth is not being driven by demand — it's being driven by price.

Gross profit dollars rose 3.7%, with GP% up 0.8 percentage points. Average transaction value climbed 5.7%, fuelled by a 5.1% rise in average selling price. Original ticket prices increased 3.7% year-on-year, with final sell prices up 2.7%, as softer discounting allowed more of the inflationary pressure to pass through to consumers.

The discussion explores:

• The return of inflation and why this is a major blow for retail in FY26
• Price as the only meaningful growth driver across the last three months
• Online performance, which continued its exceptional run with 10% growth
• Concessions (up 4.3%) and outlets (up 4.8%) outperforming standalone stores
• The growing pressure on physical retail, with standalone stores up just 0.4%
• State performance, with WA leading the way while QLD and VIC declined
• The structural cost pressures facing retailers — rising wages, CPI-linked rents, superannuation increases and store operating costs projected to rise 4–5%

We also zoom out to examine what retailers can realistically do next. With demand soft, costs rising and 2–3 potential rate rises still on the cards, the industry faces tough choices: raise prices, cut labour, restructure store networks — or absorb further margin pressure.

If the last few years have felt familiar, that's because they are. Inflation, wage growth, rent increases and cautious consumers have collided before. The question now is how retailers respond in FY26.

Want full access to The Retail Score Index and deeper January insights? Visit www.theretailscore.com

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.

In this episode, Wayne Rigney, Co-Founder of The Retail Score, breaks down the September 2025 trading results across the Australian retail sector. Drawing on anonymised data from over 100 leading retailers, he unpacks the key shifts in performance as the industry moves into the spring trading period — highlighting emerging trends and positive early signals heading into the holiday quarter.

Wayne also takes a deep dive into Artificial Intelligence and its growing relevance within the retail landscape. From the do's and don'ts of AI implementation to preparing your business for an AI-driven future, he explores how retailers can use this new technology responsibly to drive smarter decisions, boost efficiency, and stay ahead of the curve.

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