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.

In this episode, Wayne Rigney, Co-Founder of The Retail Score, breaks down the August 2025 trading results across the Australian retail sector. Drawing on anonymised data from over 100 top retailers, he highlights the trends shaping performance through the peak of winter and what they signal for the months ahead.

Wayne also takes a deep dive into labour efficiency, exploring how retailers can use their data to identify hidden costs, streamline rosters, and improve productivity. From pinpointing inefficiencies to finding small savings that add up, he shares practical strategies to help retailers run leaner, smarter operations.

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

In Episode 21 of The Retail Scoreboard, Wayne Rigney – Co-Founder of the Retail Score – breaks down July's trading results and takes a forensic look at the role CPI is playing in shaping retail performance.

From average transaction value to actual sale price, discounting strategies, and consumer sensitivity, Wayne uses anonymised data from 100+ leading retailers to reveal how inflationary pressure is impacting a number of KPI's and behaviour across the sector.

You'll also hear insights on:

• Variation in price movement by category
• Whether discounting is driving sales or damaging value
• Early signals heading into peak season

Access the full Retail Score Index and explore the trends shaping FY26: 👉 www.theretailscore.com

In this special episode, Wayne Rigney – Co-Founder of The Retail Score – recaps the key results from June and reflects on the broader performance of the Australian retail sector across FY25.

Using anonymised data from over 100 leading retailers, Wayne unpacks major trends, sales insights by state and channel, and how return behaviours are shifting year on year. He also revisits the predictions he made at the start of FY25, measuring them against the data, and shares fresh forecasts for FY26.

Want full access to The Retail Score Index and deeper insights from this episode? Head to www.theretailscore.com (http://www.theretailscore.com/) to learn more.

In this episode, Wayne Rigney, Co-Founder of The Retail Score, breaks down May 2025 retail performance across Australia using anonymised data from 100+ leading retailers.

He unpacks the latest consumer trends, performance shifts by state and channel, and what's happening with return rates.

This month's deep dive explores two major developments shaking up the sector: • The impact of rising U.S. tariffs on Australian retail supply chains and pricing • The national wage increase — and what it could mean for margins, spending, and the broader retail outlook

Packed with insights and benchmarks to help Aussie retailers stay sharp and plan ahead.