It’s home economics

ELECTRONIC goods appeared to have topped Christmas wish lists, with the sector enjoying its strongest quarterly growth in seven years, according to latest figures.

Spending on electronic goods rose 10.6 per cent in the three months to December, compared with the previous quarter.

And spending on home improvement enjoyed its strongest quarterly boost in a decade — up 11.3 per cent for the December quarter.

It comes as Australian retail spending rose 0.2 per cent for December, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

“There has been a clear shift in consumer preferences,” CommSec economist Craig James said.

“Housing-related spending is in and spending on self is out, with fewer