Christchurch spending continues to rise

Christchurch spending continues to rise

24 June 2014

Christchurch's retail and hospitality spending continues to outpace that at the national level, Statistics New Zealand said today.

For Christchurch city, after seasonal fluctuations are removed, retail and hospitality sales increased 1.5 percent in the March 2014 quarter. Nationally, sales rose 0.7 percent (see Retail Trade Survey: March 2014 quarter).

"Increased spending in the city over the past year has further widened the gap in growth between Christchurch and the rest of the country," business indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.

Looking at the longer-term picture, the trend for retail and hospitality sales in Christchurch has risen 22 percent since the June 2010 quarter (before the quakes began). This compares with a rise of 15 percent at the national level.

In actual terms, retail and hospitality sales in Christchurch were 8.1 percent higher in the March 2014 quarter than in the same quarter in 2013.

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: March 2014 quarter

ENDS

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