FED: Budget measures will help maintain retail confidence: ANRA
12 May 2009 9:36 PM
Subject: FED: Budget measures will help maintain retail confidence: ANRA FED: Budget measures will help maintain retail confidence: ANRA
CANBERRA, May 12 AAP - Retailers have given the budget a tick of approval, saying it will help maintain confidence and consumer spending.
The tax cuts and pension increase were positive moves following more than $20 billion in cash handouts, the Australian National Retailers Association said.
"Retailers welcome the government's budget tonight," association spokeswoman Margie Osmond told reporters.
"There's no doubt that confidence is the issue and their (Labor's) delivery of the commitments to both tax cuts and pension increases is a critical factor following on from the two cash bonuses."
Ms Osmond said that if unemployment grew towards 8.5 per cent as forecast, it would strip $2.5 billion from the retail economy over the next 12 months.
"So we're happy to see anything that gives people a greater sense of confidence."
AAP jcd/so/cdh =0A
FED: Budget measures will help maintain retail confidence: ANRA