Michael speaks to Russell Zimmerman, Executive Director of the Australian Retailers Association, who says the ARA/Roy Morgan Research forecasts for pre-Christmas retail trade offered some cheer for a sector that has struggled in 2019, but acknowledged this came as much of Australia faced risks of natural disaster and a bleak Christmas indeed.

Speaking at the release of annual joint ARA/Roy Morgan pre-Christmas predictions for 2019, Mr Zimmerman said Australians will spend almost $53bn before Christmas, but emphasised this was predicated on the regions “getting lucky” by avoiding bushfires or other natural disasters.

“We live in the best country on Earth, but that comes with some terrible drawbacks; one of those is summer disasters – fires, cyclones, floods – that sadly afflict some parts of the country,” Mr Zimmerman said.

The Australian Retailers Association is expecting a solid if unspectacular retail trade as Christmas approaches,” he added.

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