Retail Trade Survey: June 2004 — 12 August 2004

June Quarter Retail Sales Up 1.0 Percent Seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 1.0 percent in the June 2004 quarter, compared with the March 2004 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand. Excluding the motor vehicle related industries, seasonally adjusted retail sales increased 1.2 percent over the same period. On a monthly basis, seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 1.3 percent in June 2004, compared with May 2004.

The volume of seasonally adjusted total retail sales rose 0.8 percent in the June 2004 quarter, compared with the March 2004 quarter. This follows rises of 2.6 percent in the March 2004 quarter and 1.2 percent in the December 2003 quarter.

Fifteen of the 24 retail industries recorded higher seasonally adjusted sales in the June 2004 quarter, compared with the March 2004 quarter. The largest dollar value increases occurred in automotive fuel (up $28 million) and takeaways (up $25 million). The largest decrease occurred in supermarket and grocery stores (down $27 million). Clothing and softgoods retailing was relatively unchanged. The retail sales trend series for the total North Island increased 2.3 percent in the June 2004 quarter, compared with the March 2004 quarter. Over the same period, the retail sales trend series for the total South Island increased 1.0 percent.

Total actual retail sales for the June 2004 quarter were $13,160 million, 7.7 percent higher than for the June 2003 quarter.

Brian Pink
Government Statistician

ENDS

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