According to Tasmania's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), consumer spending remains healthy despite higher interest rates.

Figures from the statistic bureau show that December 2009 retail sales totalled A$571 million, flat with December 2008 data. The largest portion of this was sales of electrical items (A$48 million), followed by clothing (A$22 million) and footwear and accessories (A$12 million).

"We're going to see interest rates on the rise, there's been a slowing of commercial investment in Tasmania, so it’s going to be difficult," TCCI chief economist Richard Dowling said. "We really need to keep that momentum going and the confidence up if we're going to not feel any of the slowdown".

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