Christchurch retail activity lifts again

Christchurch retail activity lifts again – Media release

Christchurch retail activity has risen strongly for a second consecutive quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today.

For Christchurch city, after seasonal fluctuations are removed, total retail activity increased 2.1 percent in the September 2012 quarter. This follows another healthy rise of 2.5 percent in the June 2012 quarter.

This quarter’s strong increase in Christchurch compares with a 0.8 percent fall at the national level (see Retail Trade Survey: September 2012 quarter).

The Christchurch increase was the result of strong rises in both retail trade, and accommodation and food services, up 1.6 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.

“Christchurch’s sales growth fell behind the rest of the country after the quakes began,” industry and labour statistics manager Tehseen Islam said. “But strong rises in the past two quarters, coupled with this quarter’s decrease in national retail figures, has helped to narrow that gap.”

Since the June 2010 quarter, before the earthquakes began, Christchurch’s total retail activity has risen 6.8 percent, compared with the national increase of 8.0 percent.

The Christchurch retail trade indicator is an experimental series. It is released by Statistics NZ to provide information on the state of the Christchurch retail trade industry after the Canterbury earthquakes that began in September 2010. Because the statistics reflect new methods that may be modified, they are released on a provisional basis.

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Visit Christchurch Retail Trade Indicator: September 2012 quarter

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