Christchurch retail spending reaches $2 billion

23 March 2015

Christchurch retail spending reaches $2 billion

Christchurch city's retail and hospitality spending reached $2 billion for the first time, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Retail and hospitality sales in Christchurch for the December 2014 quarter were $2 billion, a 4.1 percent increase compared with the same quarter in 2013. This compares with an increase of 4.7 percent at the national level (see Retail Trade Survey: December 2014 quarter).

For Christchurch city, after seasonal fluctuations are removed, retail and hospitality sales increased 1.1 percent in the December 2014 quarter, compared with an increase of 1.6 percent at the national level.

"Robust spending in hospitality businesses have contributed to the city's total growth this December quarter," business indicators manager Neil Kelly said.

Looking at the longer-term picture, the trend for retail and hospitality sales in Christchurch has risen 26 percent since the June 2010 quarter (before the quakes began). This compares with a 19 percent rise at the national level.

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.

For more information about these statistics:

• Visit Christchurch Retail Trade Indicator: December 2014 quarter

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