Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) retail trade data released on Monday 4 April shows a slight downwards trend in sales for cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services.
Despite relatively stable sales across food retail, spending growth at cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services fell by 0.2 percent in seasonally adjusted terms.
Although Victoria, NSW, the ACT and South Australia all experienced increased growth, this was offset by falls across Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Manger of the ABS retail survey, Ben Dorber, told the Sydney Morning Herald that some states have been affected by the downturn in mining, including Western Australia, where spending in February was $417.1 million, down $30.3 million from the same month last year, and in Queensland, where it fell by $43.2 million to $714.2 million.
"We have heard some anecdotal evidence from some of those takeaway providers about being affected by mines closing and directly affecting their businesses," Dorber said.
He added that trade at smaller cafes, restaurants and takeaway stores had decelerated more than large businesses in late 2015 and early 2016.
By subgroup, cafs, restaurants and catering services fell 1.3 percent, while takeaway food services rose 1.4 percent after seasonal adjustment, according to the ABS.
