business
Market Trends and What Businesses Need to Know Right Now
Perth firms confront slower consumer spending and rising digital competition as property values ease.
How we reported this
Perth retail turnover fell 2.8 percent in the June quarter, with the sharpest drops recorded along Hay Street Mall and in the Northbridge precinct.
The decline follows three straight months of softening home prices in the metropolitan area, where the median house value slipped below $680,000 by the end of June. Local operators say households are trimming discretionary purchases while landlords adjust lease expectations in the central business district.
Retail pressure points across key precincts
Shop owners in Subiaco’s Rokeby Road strip report foot traffic down nearly 15 percent from the same period last year. Several fashion and homewares stores have shortened trading hours, while cafes have cut back on weekend staffing. The Perth Chamber of Commerce recorded 47 new vacancy listings in the CBD between April and June, the highest quarterly figure since 2023.
Property data released this week by CoreLogic shows the average commercial rent in the Perth CBD eased to $485 per square metre, down from $510 twelve months earlier. Tenants are using the shift to renegotiate shorter leases or secure fit-out contributions before committing to new space.
Digital sales and supply chain adjustments
Online sales through local platforms rose 4.1 percent year-on-year, according to figures compiled by the Western Australian Small Business Development Corporation. Businesses that invested in click-and-collect infrastructure at Westfield Carousel and Garden City Booragoon captured most of the gain.
Supply costs remain elevated, with fuel surcharges on freight from the eastern states holding steady at 12 cents per litre above the June 2025 baseline. Operators are locking in forward contracts for imported stock before the next round of shipping-rate reviews scheduled for August.
Firms should review inventory levels against the latest ABS retail data released 10 July and test dynamic pricing tools on their e-commerce sites ahead of the August school-holiday period. Those with physical locations in the CBD or inner suburbs are advised to contact landlords now about rent relief clauses tied to turnover benchmarks.