Christchurch retail spending surges ahead

Christchurch retail spending surges ahead

24 March 2014

Growth in Christchurch's retail and hospitality spending surged ahead of that at the national level in the December 2013 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today.

For Christchurch city, after seasonal fluctuations are removed, retail and hospitality sales increased 3.5 percent in the December 2013 quarter. Nationally, sales rose 1.2 percent (see Retail Trade Survey: December 2013 quarter).

"This quarter's increase is the largest since the June 2011 quarter," industry and labour statistics manager Tehseen Islam said. "The surge in spending has pushed Christchurch's growth further ahead of the national growth."

Looking at the longer-term picture, the trend for retail and hospitality sales in Christchurch has risen 20 percent since the June 2010 quarter (before the quakes began). This compares with a rise of 14 percent at the national level.

In actual terms, retail and hospitality sales in Christchurch were 8.4 percent higher in the December 2013 quarter than in the same quarter in 2012.

The Christchurch retail trade indicator series is an experimental series that measures activity in the retail and hospitality industries. Statistics NZ releases it to provide information on the state of these industries after the Canterbury earthquakes that began in September 2010. The statistics are provisional because they reflect new methods that may be modified.

For more information about these statistics:
• Visit Christchurch Retail Trade Indicator: December 2013 quarter
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