Retailer Harvey Norman says a rise in consumer confidence since the federal election has not provided a boost in its sales.

“We were expecting after the election that there might be some huge jump but there wasn’t,” CEO Katie Page told the company’s annual general meeting.

Several measures of consumer confidence and spending have shown improvements since the September 7 election, but Harvey Norman is the latest big retailer to say that has not benefited its business.

Page said trading conditions for Harvey Norman’s Australian stores were “just steady as she goes”, though its New Zealand business continued to performing strongly.

The electronics and furniture retailer is hoping for a stronger Christmas period, she said.

“We’re all hoping for a great Christmas but every retailer is always optimistic for Christmas,” Page said.

The company’s chairman and founder Gerry Harvey said the company was looking for other ways to grow its business, including building apartments on its existing properties.

“Because we’ve got such a lot of properties there are some things we can do to make them more profitable,” he said.

“There are a number of properties we can build residential towers on, that will probably happen.”

Harvey Norman shares were up 5.5 cents, 1.7 per cent, at $3.275 at 1523 AEDT.

AAP