The figure defies claims by business groups that times have been tough for Canberra retailers, although both the Canberra Business Council and ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry maintain that retail won't truly pick up until after the election.

Overall figures show Australian retail turnover was unchanged for June, although the trend estimate rose 0.1 per cent.

While there was growth nationally in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.9 per cent), household goods retailing (0.3 per cent) and food retailing (0.1 per cent), those gains were offset by falls in other retailing (-1.1 per cent) and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-0.2 per cent).

Regarding the seasonally adjusted figures, the ACT's 1.3 per cent growth far exceeded the next highest, South Australia (0.3 per cent), but the capital's retail growth in trend terms was a more moderate 0.1 per cent rise.

That was on par with the national average, while Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory went backwards.

Canberra Business Council chief executive Chris Faulks said the figure showed some promise, but was relatively insignificant.

''It's pretty much a no-change figure in terms of trend - it's showing a very, very small improvement and only in those areas like food, cafes, restaurants, not so much in what we would regard the hard retail spending, which is the household goods, clothing and department stores.''

Ms Faulks believes uncertainty because of the looming election has played its role, affecting consumer confidence.

''[Consumers] still go out and eat and attend restaurants and go to the movies and that sort of thing, but they're not purchasing the larger items which are an indication of people's certainty in their future.

''Our view is once the election has occurred and whoever is in government settles into, hopefully, a period of political and economic stability, maybe some real confidence will return to consumers and to the business community.''

Andrew Blyth, head of the ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the growth figures do not reflect what it has experienced on the ground. ''We're seeing quite a number of businesses ringing us for advice on downsizing … anecdotally, Manuka business precinct told us they had their worst June ever, so there is definitely volatility in the ACT economy,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Canberra is the third-most expensive capital in the country for petrol, with pump prices steady, while the cost of fuel across most of the nation dropped from five-year highs over the past week.

The average drop of more than 4¢ nationwide, to 153.5¢ per litre in the past week, eased pressure on motorists. But Canberra drivers didn't see any change, with the average price of unleaded steady at 157.8¢ per litre, compared to 149.8¢ in Sydney and 152.1¢ in Melbourne, but cheaper than Darwin and Hobart.

Around the region, petrol was marginally cheaper in Goulburn at 156.2¢ per litre, Queanbeyan (156.2¢), Batemans Bay (156.9¢), and Gundagai (153.9¢), but more expensive in Yass (158.1¢), Cooma (163.7¢), and Tumut (163.9¢).

Analysis of the petrol price data by CommSec predicted the national price would likely fall by another 2¢ to 3¢ over the next seven to 10 days.