Retail sales in Australia were up a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent on month in May, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday - standing at A$21.825 billion.
That missed forecasts for an increase of 0.3 percent following the downwardly revised 0.1 percent contraction in April (originally up 0.2 percent).
By category, sales were up in other retailing (0.8 percent), food retailing (0.2 percent), department stores (0.8 percent) and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.4 percent).
Sales were down for cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (-0.6 percent) and household goods retailing (-0.3 percent).
By region, sales gained in Western Australia (1.6 percent), Queensland (0.5 percent), South Australia (0.6 percent), Tasmania (0.6 percent) and the Northern Territory (0.8 percent).
Sales were down in New South Wales (-0.4 percent), Victoria (-0.3 percent) and the Australian Capital Territory (-1.7 percent).
On a yearly basis, retail sales were up 2.3 percent.
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