Australian retail sales rose unexpectedly in the month of January. At 0.2% the rise in sales aggressively overshot expectations of a -0.5% decline in the figure. Spending with bolstered by the government’s distribution of A$8.9 billion ($5.6 billion) in cash grants to families as a result of a stimulus package passed in late January. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that they would continue distributing more cash. In fact, another A$12.7 billion is expected to be sent to lower and middle-income families and individuals.