Retail spending figures have risen for a second consecutive month, getting a boost from price cuts.

Retail trade was up 1.0 per cent in June, which was better than market forecasts of a rise of 0.6 per cent.

RBC currency strategist Michael Turner said it seems as though Australian consumers are taking advantage of retailers’ discounts.

“All up it was a pretty encouraging bit of data,” he said. “It seem that over the past couple of years turnover had been occurring, it’s just that prices have had to be pretty moderate for that to happen.

“That’s also consistent with what has happened with retail sales up 1.4 per cent in the quarter, but volumes were pretty firm.”

The ABS also released international trade figures for June, with the balance on goods and services showing a surplus of $9.0 million in the month.

Economists’ forecasts had centred on a deficit of $400 million in June.

Mr Turner said rural exports got a boost, but that was offset a weakness in non-rural goods.

“That would probably suggest a slowing in demand, particularly in China,” he said.

“All up that helped post a small surplus in June.”