Australia's retail sales enjoy bounce, but consumers not rushing to spend

Sydney

AUSTRALIAN retail sales rebounded in January after two months of tepid outcomes, although the underlying pulse was one of sluggish household consumption as record-low wages growth eats into spending power.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics out on Monday showed retail sales rose 0.4 per cent in January, in line with market forecasts and up from a 0.1 per cent fall in December.