The
Productivity Commission has issued a report showing that the costs of running
retail businesses in Australia are higher than in either the UK or US.
The report says that costs are driven primarily by geography, markets and
certain commercial decisions. It added that government restrictions have
contributed to costs. “As was the case in 2011
when the Commission undertook an extensive inquiry into the economic structure
and performance of the Australian retail industry, retailers continue to
operate under several regulatory regimes that unnecessarily inflate their costs
and restrict their ability to innovate,” the Commission states.