SYDNEY, Nov 28 Reuters Australian retail sales unexpectedly slipped in October as consumers cut back on everything but food, though analysts believe many were merely saving some money to splurge on Black Friday sales that took place this month.

Retail sales fell 0.2 from September to A35.77 billion, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics ABS showed on Tuesday. That compares with analysts expectations for 0.1 growth and a gain of 0.9 in September.

Sales were up 1.2 from a year earlier.

It looks like consumers hit the pause button on some discretionary spending in October, likely waiting to take advantage of discounts during Black Friday sales events in November, said Ben Dorber, ABS head of retail statistics.

This is a pattern we have seen develop in recent years as Black Friday sales grow in popularity.

An ANZ survey showed on Tuesday that ahead of Black Friday consumer intention to buy a major household item was at its highest since the first week of February.

Data from ecommerce firm Shopify also showed that pointofsale sales made by its merchants in Australia during this year39;s Black Friday sales grew 27 from a year ago.

A strong rebound in sales this month therefore looks likely, and even if that39;s followed by a renewed fall in December, sales volumes probably kept rising across Q4, said Marcel Thieliant, head of Asia Pacific at Capital Economics.

There was little market reaction to the weakerthanexpected retail data. Markets continue to wager…