We'll know more later this morning with the latest retail sales figures for April. The forecast is for sales to be down after mild weather pushed extra spending into the first three months of the year. But at least one segment of the retail sector has been hanging on to growth.

Retail numbers faced their second month of strength in March, helped by the warm weather and the early Easter holiday.

Commentator Frances Frei says automation needs to improve the customer experience, not frustrate it.

Retail is getting more and more "robotified," and where it's most evident is the self checkout kiosks at supermarkets. Retail clerks are finding themselves displaced by the machines.