Australian retail sales experienced a significant increase of 0.8% in November, the highest rise in ten months, largely driven by Black Friday discounts.
The rise fell short of forecasts which anticipated a 1.0% increase, indicating that this boost may not hinder potential interest rate cuts.
Analysts believe that October's spending may have been shifted forward from December, suggesting the impact of seasonal sales is being misrepresented.
Despite an annual increase of 3.0% in retail sales, consumer spending growth has been below expectations, contributing to a dovish stance from the Reserve Bank of Australia.
The RBA is facing pressure due to slowing inflation and potential rate cuts, with markets predicting a 60-78% likelihood of a cut in February.