Winter sales boost retail figures: ANRA

Mid-year sales have helped lift retail figures for June, says the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA).

The figures for June trumped economists' expectations with spending rising 0.6 per cent.

Figures released on Monday show retail spending to be at their highest levels since the start of the year, according to the Bureau of Statistics.

The ANRA put the good news down to the winter stocktake sales.

"It seems consumers were putting off purchases until the cold snap hit in June," ANRA chief executive Margy Osmond said.

"It is likely mid-year clearances helped spur sales ... household goods, clothing, footwear and accessories all recorded rises."

Clothing sales were up 2.6 per cent after several stores were forced to call their sales early when the season's lingering warm weather made it difficult to shift winter collections.

Major department stores like Myer and David Jones however weren't able to capitalise on the winter spending frenzy, down 0.4 per cent for the month.