The Luxury Retailing industry has thrived over the past few years, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Australian luxury retailers was relatively insulated from the financial instability that affected most of the global retail sector during the pandemic. Store closures and lockdowns drastically reduced instore sales, while travel limits decreased revenue from international travellers. However, housebound consumers redirected savings for overseas trips into luxury purchases to make lockdowns more comfortable. Social payment packages supported this spending. The pandemic forced luxury retailers to embrace a long-overdue digital movement and establish an online presence. This allowed luxury retailers to profit from the pandemic-induced online shopping boom. Rising household discretionary income and market polarisation also stoked demand for luxury products until 2021-22. Ever-changing consumer preferences have created opportunities for diverse luxury brands, boosting the number of enterprises. The domestic luxury market’s strength has attracted international fashion houses like Louis Vuitton to expand their physical footprints in Australia, especially in Sydney and Melbourne, with a greater focus on capturing international visitors’ attention at airports. Post-pandemic revenge spending has allowed retailers to increase prices, countering business inflation and yielding higher profit margins. However, due to rising cost-of-living pressures, consumers are becoming more conservative with their spending. As a result, industrywide revenue is expected to grow at an annualised 2.6% over the five years through 2025-26, to total $7.5 billion, with revenue anticipated to grow a mere 1.4% in 2025-26. Going forwards, industry revenue is projected to increase at an annualised 2.5% through the end of 2030-31, reaching $8.5 billion. This growth will stem from increased discretionary income, improved consumer sentiment and a recovery in inbound tourism. Intensifying industry competition will arise from flagship stores investing in exclusive products and customer service. Emerging luxury brands targeting wealthy tourists will significantly shape the industry, benefiting independent boutiques that can readily adopt new and niche labels. Potential public policies to boost Australia’s fashion market are forecast to lead to more Australian-owned luxury brands, bringing new players into the industry.

Changes in consumer behaviour and demographic trends influence the fashion sector, which is why society’s evolving attitudes towards men’s fashion have affected the Menswear Stores industry. Traditionally, clothing brands prioritised womenswear, but growing interest in men’s apparel and accessories has encouraged retailers to focus more on catering to the men's market. Reasons like shifting gender norms, a rise in individualism, changing work cultures and social media influence have fuelled fashion-related spending among men, particularly younger generations. Revenue has been rising at an annualised 0.4% over the past five years and is expected to reach $7.3 billion in 2025-26, thanks to higher disposable income and a growing male population aged 18 and over. This trend includes an anticipated revenue dip of 1.2% in the current year as consumer sentiment remains subdued, encouraging Australians to rein in their spending habits. Following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflationary pressures have paused the industry’s upwards revenue trajectory that prevailed for over a decade. Menswear stores with digital platforms were able to capitalise on the online shopping boom, despite reduced instore demand for suits and dress shirts at traditional bricks-and-mortar stores amid lockdowns and trading restrictions. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has led consumers to continue favouring the more affordable prices offered by online retailers in recent years. The industry’s target consumers are able to compare products and seek out the best value for money, a trend fuelled by weak consumer sentiment. Limited spending power has been the main factor driving industry revenue downwards in recent years, aligning with trends across the wider clothing sector. Menswear stores have also faced rising business costs in Australia, pushing many to adopt more affordable operational models. Fierce competition from online-only retailers has pressured traditional menswear stores to develop ecommerce platforms, enabling them to meet changing demand and protect profit margins. The rapid emergence of lower-cost, online-only menswear stores during the pandemic has intensified price-based competition and squeezed industry profit margins. Industry revenue is forecast to expand at an annualised 1.9% through the end of 2030-31, to $8.0 billion. Improving consumer sentiment and rising disposable incomes will support consumer spending on men's clothing and accessories. Industry competition is set to intensify, both from major international fashion chains and online-only retailers. In turn, menswear stores will improve their own online capabilities to remain competitive while streamlining their instore operations.

Although performance has been mixed recently, with revenue estimated to dip by 1.4% in 2024-25, the Tyre Retailing industry in Australia has seen relatively steady growth over the past five years, recording an annualised 3.2% increase in revenue. This reflects the industry's resilience in a competitive market, driven by ongoing consumer demand, despite its external challenges, including rising costs, price competition and the dominance of online platforms. In 2024-25, total revenue is expected to reach $7.9 billion. The end of pandemic-related travel restrictions saw demand for new tyres rebound, boosting industry revenue, profit margins, labour demand and employee wages. Low-cost tyres have been particularly popular recently, partly because of a nationwide cost-of-living crisis. Intense price competition, climbing costs and the dominance of online retail have subdued revenue in 2024-25, though profit margins have slightly improved. Demand for new car purchases has grown, which will slow down the ageing of the national vehicle fleet and limit demand for new tyre purchases. Market fragmentation intensifies as Beaurepaires, a significant industry company, has announced plans to exit the market. This highlights the increasing challenges faced by traditional retailers. As the competitive environment tightens, businesses must innovate or face the risk of being overshadowed by larger, more adaptable companies. The Tyre Retailing industry is poised for moderate yet consistent growth over the next few years, propelled by stable downstream demand alongside growth in the adult population and the number of registered motor vehicles. The industry’s evolution will be characterised by structural changes, primarily influenced by Goodyear's shift towards wholesaling and third-party retailing. Elevated global rubber prices will continue to inflate manufacturing costs, which could be passed on to retailers, lifting end consumer prices. The industry is also set to witness intensified competition from online-only tyre retailers and car service centres, posing new challenges for traditional businesses. Overall, industry revenue is projected to expand at an annualised 0.9% through the end of 2029-30 to reach $8.3 billion.

Mobility aids play an integral role in assisting the disabled and elderly in their day-to-day lives by aiding mobility and increasing independence. Both temporary users, like those recovering from an injury and long-term users, such as those with an ongoing condition, often require mobility aids. Australia's ageing population is supporting industry revenue. This trend reflects the direct correlation between increased age and disability rates. As Australia's population continues to age, the number of people with a disability will gradually climb. Some older Australians may be able to access government funding for mobility aids via various aged care programs, including the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and the Home Care Packages Program. States and territories also provide several assistive technology (AT) aids and equipment programs to elderly Australians. Younger eligible Australians may have AT supports provided as part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The disparate nature of current government-funded pathways for AT purchases not covered by the NDIS means many customers pay the full cost of their mobility equipment purchases. This means that real household disposable income trends also sway the industry’s performance. Industry revenue is expected to contract by an annualised 0.2% over the five years through 2024-25 to reach $720.0 million, with the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis contributing to consumers cutting back on discretionary expenditure on aids and appliances. This contraction is despite expected growth of 2.8% in 2024-25. Growth rates are forecast to become relatively more robust, climbing an annualised 2.8% over the five years to 2029-30 to total $826.5 million. Australia's ageing population, as well as rising arthritis and obesity, will drive industry revenue and profit growth. Technological advancements, including a continued shift from manual to motorised wheelchairs and ongoing product ergonomics enhancements, will also benefit mobility equipment retailers, as will any moves to introduce a new national government-funded AT program to cover disabled Australians who are ineligible for NDIS support.

Consumers’ growing awareness of fast food’s nutritional content and shift towards healthier eating habits have challenged demand for fast food and takeaway food services. In response, fast food brands have expanded their menus to include more nutritious, premium options with reduced fat, sugar and salt. Major companies have adapted to this trend, with McDonald's expanding its premium burger range and KFC focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The number of chicken-based fast food, which is considered healthier than traditional fast food, is also increasing. The recent cost-of-living crisis has had a mixed impact on the industry as consumers ‘trade down.’ Although people are refraining from overspending on eating out, they’re preferring to spend on fast food meals instead of paying for full meals at restaurants. Industry revenue is expected to have grown at an annualised 2.6% over the five years through 2024-25 to $29.6 billion. This trend includes an anticipated 2.9% jump in 2024-25. Consumers’ surging reliance on online delivery platforms during the pandemic boosted industry revenue but also pressured profitability, since online delivery platforms charge commissions per order. Rising food inflation has led businesses to increase menu prices to offset higher purchasing costs, with most major franchises able to pass on costs downstream to consumers, which has driven profitability growth over the five years through 2024-25. Shifting consumer preferences and evolving business models will drive industry growth over the coming years. Companies will increasingly focus on offering plant-based alternatives, reshaping their menus, with major brands set to expand their vegetarian and vegan options to capture rising demand for sustainable, health-conscious meals. Refranchising will also improve industrywide profitability, as fast food giants will reduce their operational costs by shifting company-owned stores to franchisees. This model allows brands to focus on marketing and innovation while franchisees manage day-to-day operations. These strategies, alongside international expansion, will boost competition and industry growth. Revenue is forecast to rise at an annualised 4.3% over the five years through 2029-30 to reach $36.6 billion.

The Kitchen and Diningware Wholesaling industry has experienced dynamic developments over the last few years. Pandemic lockdowns resulted in heightened demand for home improvements, including kitchenware and diningware, stimulating an increase in retail sales, which led to a surge in orders for wholesalers. The pandemic also expedited a move towards online shopping, presenting wholesalers with new opportunities to reach consumers. Even so, the industry has been negatively impacted by the wholesale bypass trend, which has undermined the traditional role of wholesalers as retailers seek direct relations with manufacturers. A slump in residential housing construction, rising purchase costs and a cost-of-living crisis curtailing downstream consumer spending on kitchen and diningware have also hampered industry revenue and profitability. Many wholesalers have sought to offset this by focusing on the sale of premium items. The challenging circumstances have resulted in business closures and reduced industry employment. Overall, revenue is expected to creep upwards at an annualised 0.6% over the five years through 2024-25, to an estimated $3.5 billion. This includes an estimated dip of 2.6% in the current year. Over the coming years, kitchen and diningware wholesalers are poised to benefit from positive downstream shifts in consumer demand, driven by an increase in residential building construction in response to population growth and heightened activity in the property market following interest rate cuts. Higher disposable income and improved consumer sentiment are also set to spur retail spending on homeware products, a trend that will pass down to wholesalers through demand from retail buyers. Manufacturers and retailers will continue to shape the industry's future. Wholesalers will need innovative strategies to retain their consumer base and avoid wholesale bypass. The contraction in industry enterprise and establishment numbers is set to persist, constraining revenue growth but also providing opportunities for some wholesalers to secure a larger market share. Overall, industry revenue is forecast to climb at an annualised 1.1% through the end of 2029-30, to $3.7 billion.