The anticipated growth is mirrored, among others, in a low retail trade price environment and anticipated personal income tax concessions. Average real growth in the retail trade sales of semidurable goods is anticipated at 6.4% in 2006, while the average real growth in the retail trade sales of nondurable and durable goods is expected to be 6,6% and 6,8% respectively.
Projections compiled by senior researcher Dr Deon Tustin according to retail product group shows that the average real growth in the retail sales of footwear, audio equipment, TV sets, video recorders and DVDs and kitchenware is likely to increase by at least 7%.
Compared to the anticipated real growth for other retail items, average jewellery (3,2%), beverage (6,3%) and food (6,8%) retail sales growth is anticipated to be slightly lower but still fairly positive in 2006.
The BMR anticipates that 45,6% of the total formal retail trade sales will occur during the first half of 2006 and expects that formal retail trade sales will amount to approximately R420 billion in 2006.
Approximately 7,1% of all retail sales will occur in January while about 12% of the retail sales will occur in December.
The report, consisting of 64 pages, is available from the Bureau of Market Research, PO Box 392, UNISA 0003.
