Eating out and students returning to school boost spending

Eating out and students returning to school boost card spending – Media release

12 February 2018

Consumers spent more on eating out and on hardware, furniture, and appliances in January 2018, Stats NZ said today. This contributed to a 1.4 percent rise in total retail card spending in the month, when adjusted for seasonal effects.

“Card spending in bars, cafes, restaurants, and takeaway shops led the rise in the hospitality industry,” retail manager Sue Chapman said.

Spending rose across four of the six retail industries in January 2018. The largest movements were:
• hospitality, up $15 million (1.5 percent)
• durables, including hardware, furniture, and appliances, up $14 million (1.2 percent)
• fuel, up $9.0 million (1.5 percent).

“Students needing electronic devices and other back-to-school supplies, helped nudge up card spending in the durables industry in January,” Ms Chapman said.

Core retail spending (which excludes the vehicle-related industries) rose 1.0 percent in January 2018, after a 0.2 percent fall in December 2017.

Actual retail spending using electronic cards was $5.3 billion in January 2018, up $176 million (3.4 percent) from January 2017.

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

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