Australia’s February Retail Sales Growth Was Weaker Than Expected

Retail turnover rose 0.2% in February compared with January

Shoppers at Chatswood Mall in the Chatswood suburb of Sydney.Photo: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg News

SYDNEY—Australian retail-sales activity was weaker than expected in February, sending a signal that households are struggling under the weight of soaring interest rates and a big rise in the cost of living over the past year.

Retail turnover rose 0.2% in February compared with January, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday. Economists had expected a 0.4% rise. The small increase in February follows growth of 1.8% in January.

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