Consumers snap up discounted TVs as sales start early

"After a steady result last month retailers told us that sales activity grew in October ahead of the Black Friday sales," Australian Bureau of Statistics head of business statistics Robert Ewing said.

"The stronger than usual October month saw some retailers enticing buyers to spend early with discounting, particularly on discretionary items."

The other retailing category logged a substantial 1.6 per cent increase and household goods sales gained 1.4 per cent, with people spending more on televisions and other electronics as it went on sale, the bureau noted. 

Not all non-food categories rose over the month, with clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing sinking 0.6 per cent and department stores falling 0.3 per cent.