Retail

A lacklustre stockmarket debut by Dick Smith Holdings has drawn unfavourable comparisons with fellow retailer Myer's poor listing four years ago.

Shopping centre giant Westfield Group will split its Australian and New Zealand assets from its international business as it continues to pursue growth overseas.

Retail spending rose for the fourth month in a row as consumer confidence and recent interest rate cuts encourage Australians to spend.

Grocery wholesaler Metcash has lifted its first-half profit more than 20 per cent thanks to its exit from the Franklins line of supermarkets, but its underlyng earnings were weaker as it continued to be affected by deregulation WA and strong competition nationally.

Independent grocery group Metcash is set to finalise its first store swap in Western Australia with supermarket giant Coles.

Retailer Harvey Norman says a rise in consumer confidence since the federal election has not provided a boost in its sales.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia has forecast that the state's shoppers will spend $3.55 billion in December.

Retailer David Jones has borne the anger of shareholders, incurring a first "strike" at its annual general meeting and setting up a potential board spill.

Department store chain Myer is cautious about the year ahead as it faces increased costs and a challenging economic and consumer environment.

In a bid to spread the Christmas cheer, the state government has approved a special extension for Sunday shopping hours.

A local hospitality supply wholesaler is countering the challenge of a slowing market with a new business strategy focused on retail.

Australia's biggest supermarkets have agreed to a code of conduct governing how they deal with suppliers, providing a potential solution to long running tension between food and grocery producers and retail giants.

Electronics retailer Dick Smith hopes to raise almost $345 million by listing on the share market in December.

Shopping centre owner Westfield Group is on track to meet its income growth forecasts, despite no improvement in local retail conditions.

Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder has defended grocery giant Coles' relationship with farmers, saying the high dollar and government regulations are a weight on the agricultural sector.

Westfield Group has terminated an agreement that would have allowed it to sell the Innaloo shopping centre for $255 million to Charter Hall Group.

Retail spending continues to improve, driven by department store sales, reflecting the bounce in consumer confidence since the September federal election.

David Jones is upbeat ahead of the busy Christmas season as the upmarket department store chain enjoys a healthy post-election boost in sales.

Accounting for nearly 20 per cent of economic activity in Australia, retail sales are critically important to fill the gap left by the slowdown in mining investment.

Woolworths has enjoyed a three per cent sales increase despite subdued retail conditions, with its supermarkets, petrol stations and hardware stores posting gains.

The grocery industry has warned that a price war between the nation's big two supermarket chains could hurt consumers in the long run if food suppliers don't have money to invest in their businesses.

Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder says Australia's supermarket trade is not a duopoly controlled by Coles and Woolworths and online retailer Amazon is a far greater threat to local retailing.

Wesfarmers has reported generally positive quarterly sales results from its retail businesses, with Bunnings achieving the most rapid growth while Coles' supermarkets and liquor stores lifted turno

Paul Zahra has cited personal reasons for stepping down as chief executive of high-end department store chain David Jones.

Fremantle Ports is hoping to revive the stalled $350 million revamp of Victoria Quay, part of nearly $1 billion of proposed new developments in the City of Fremantle.

Retail giant Woolworths has appealed to the Western Australian government to deregulate the state's shopping hours, while urging them to repeal laws which regulate what times cigarettes, pantyhose and needles can be sold in petrol stations.

Supermarket giant Woolworths has announced it will phase out the sale of eggs from caged hens by 2018 in a move that has frustrated the egg industry.

Activity in the services sector fell at a much slower rate in September, thanks to improvements in sales, new orders and supplier deliveries.

Retail spending has recorded its second consecutive monthly rise but growth in the sector remains sluggish.

Woolworths boss Grant O'Brien earned $5.7 million last financial year, just over half as much as his rival at Coles.

Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey's annual pay remained steady at $1.03 million last financial year, as the company's profit dropped by 17.5 per cent.

Strong population growth and changes to retail regulations are driving shopping centre sales.