Christmas spending did not quite reach the $530 million tipped by the ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce, but ACT growth was better than everywhere except Tasmania.

The ABS figures released on Thursday showed ACT retail turnover was up 1.3per cent in seasonally adjusted December figures, well above the national average of 0.5 per cent.

The ABS figures showed the territory had a a 0.5 per cent turnover rise in trend terms, a tick under the national figure of 0.6 per cent. ACT shoppers spent $523.6million across the month.

The seasonally adjusted figure of $418.5 million was up 4.7 per cent from December 2012.

The rise followed a decline in spending of 0.2 per cent in November. In Tasmania, businesses enjoyed a 1.8 per cent spending increase in December.

ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce chief executive Andrew Blyth said spending reflected a cautious approach from residents.

“Probably a modest approach to spending will continue for a little while, while people wait to see what the federal government may have in store,” he said. “No doubt this year and possibly into next will be tough for the ACT economy and Canberrans, but [the growth] certainly shows we were spending.”

The figures meant the ACT’s quarterly retail growth was 2.2 per cent, the best since the March quarter.

Food retailers enjoyed the strongest growth nationally, with December turnover up 2.5 per cent.

The Commonwealth Bank’s business sales indicator showed a national rise of 0.4 per cent in December spending in seasonally adjusted terms, and 0.9 per cent on trend numbers.