Australia's retailers are set to continue to struggle in 2012 after official data showed shoppers were still reluctant to spend in November.

Retail trade was unchanged in November at AUD20,933 billion (USD21.28b), compared to AUD20,927b in October. Economists had forecast a rise of 0.3 percent for the month.

Commonwealth Bank chief economist Michael Blythe said the data showed the domestic retail sector remained very subdued.