SYDNEY, March 18 (Reuters) - Australian retail sales were estimated to have risen 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis in February, according to a preliminary data series released for the first time on Wednesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The ABS said it decided to release a preliminary series, which is subject to revision when the final numbers for February are released on April 3, to provide up-to-date information to help understand the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
In January, retail sales fell 0.3% from December. The ABS said it will also publish additional information on the impact of the virus on businesses, overseas visitors and students, and employment.
