Christmas spending strong with three shopping days to go

Christmas spending strong with three full shopping days to go

As the final Christmas shopping weekend approaches, Paymark figures released today show a positive return for retailers in the 21 days ending the 20th of December, with a 4.7 per cent year-on-year spending increase.

Paymark, which processes about 75 per cent of all electronic transactions in New Zealand, saw just over $3.2 billion through its network between 30 November and 20 December – $148.7 million more than the same period last year.

Paymark CEO, Simon Tong says the results should be welcome news for retailers as they begin their final push for the last three full shopping days before Christmas.

”It’s heartening to see the annual year-on-year growth rate building through December and climbing above the average for the year which was around 3 per cent.

”During the last seven days spending was up 5.8 per cent. This makes it one of the highest spending weeks of the year and yesterday we broke through four million transactions in one day for only the sixth time in our history.”

Many regions throughout the country have also shown particularly strong growth throughout December to date. Back at the top of the list is Canterbury, up 6.4 per cent or $22.8 million year-on-year. Auckland/Northland (+5.2%), Hawkes Bay (+5.3%) and Wairarapa (+5.4%) have also had a strong few weeks, with Auckland/Northland retailers seeing an extra $65.9 million through their tills compared to 2011.

It appears Kiwis are still hard at work on their homes this Christmas, with floor covering and furniture stores reporting spending growth of 20.6 per cent year-on-year and garden stores and hardware/building supply stores up 10.1 per cent and 10.3 per cent respectively.

Many Kiwis may also need to loosen their belt notches this Christmas as food and liquor retailers reaped the benefits of the party season. Restaurants bars and cafes were up 7.3 per cent year-on-year as well as takeaway shops (+6.5%) and liquor retailers (+11.5%).

Please visit http://www.paymarkmediaroom.co.nz/christmas-spending-strong-with-three-full-shopping-days-to-go.html for the latest figures from Paymark

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