Quiet month in card spending

Quiet month in card spending – Media release

9 December 2016

Total retail spending using electronic cards was $5.2 billion in November 2016, up $254 million (5.1 percent) from November 2015, Statistics New Zealand said today. The largest increase came from the consumables industry, up $101 million (5.8 percent.

"We are not sure how sales may have been affected by the 14 November, 7.8 magnitude earthquake in the upper South Island, which also caused ongoing disruption in central Wellington," business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said.

When adjusted for seasonal effects, retail spending fell 0.1 percent in November 2016 month. This follows a 0.5 percent rise in October 2016.

Seasonally adjusted card spending fell in four of the six retail industries. The largest movements in November 2016 were:
• fuel, up $14 million (2.5 percent)
• consumables, up $14 million (0.8 percent)
• apparel, down $10 million (3.2 percent).

The consumables industry includes supermarket and grocery stores, specialised food, and liquor. The apparel industry includes clothing, footwear, and accessories.

Core retail spending (which excludes the vehicle-related industries) fell 0.4 percent in November 2016, after a 0.2 percent rise in October.

The total value of electronic card spending, including the two non-retail industries (services, and other non-retail), was down 0.3 percent in November. This follows a 0.6 percent rise in October 2016.

Trends for the total, retail, and core retail series have generally been rising since these series began in October 2002, but have been easing in recent months.

Values are only available at the national level, and are not adjusted for price changes.

Ends

For more information about these statistics:

• Visit Electronic Card Transactions: November 2016

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