Business receipts for the services industry rose 6.4 per cent in the final quarter of last year over the same period in 2012.

All services industries reported growth, except for recreation and personal services, which contracted 1.7 per cent over the previous year.

The top performers were education services and financial and insurance services, which registered growth of 15.4 per cent and 12.4 per cent respectively.

Other services industries that saw their takings grow included real estate, rental and leasing services, business services excluding real estate, health and social services, and transport and storage services.

The data released on Thursday by the Department of Statistics excludes wholesale and retail trade, and accommodation and food services.