A merry Christmas for retailers: ANRA

Shoppers with big appetites and a taste for fine Christmas fare are behind a $8.1 billion increase in turnover in the retail sector, a peak retailers body says.

December retail figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show turnover rose by 3.2 per cent.

The Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) said food was the big drawcard for consumers, with the category's year-on-year result in December its best in five years.

"It really was a Christmas to eat, drink and be merry, with food retailing rising 2.5 per cent for the month of December," ANRA chief executive Margy Osmond said.

"Modest gains were also made in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (up 0.5 per cent) and department stores (up 0.3 per cent)," Ms Osmond said.

However, spending on fashion and accessories dropped while solid performance in the hardware and furniture sector reflected the housing market upturn, she added.

Most states were tracking about six per cent to seven per cent year-on-year growth in turnover, a positive sign for 2014, she said.