Retail Sales Increase 0.5 Percent

Retail Sales Increase 0.5 Percent

Seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 0.5 percent in November 2002 compared with October 2002, according to Statistics New Zealand. Seasonally adjusted sales for the core retailing group (which excludes the motor vehicle services and motor vehicle retailing storetypes) also increased by 0.5 percent.

Nine out of the 15 storetypes recorded increases in seasonally adjusted sales in November 2002, compared with October 2002. The largest increases occurred in the motor vehicle retailing and department stores storetypes. Of the five storetypes that decreased in sales, the largest decreases were recorded for the other stores and motor vehicle services storetypes. Sales in the food retailing storetype remained unchanged from last month.

Four out of the six major regions recorded an increase in seasonally adjusted sales this month, compared with October 2002. The largest increases occurred in the remainder of the South Island (which excludes all areas outside the Canterbury region) and the remainder of the North Island (which excludes all areas outside the Auckland, Waikato and Wellington regions).

The trend for total retail sales remains positive, which continues a pattern of growth seen since the last turning point in May 1998.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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