Retail Sales Decrease 0.3 Percent in April

Retail Sales Decrease 0.3 Percent in April

Seasonally adjusted total retail sales decreased 0.3 percent in April 2003 compared with March 2003, according to Statistics New Zealand. This follows a 0.9 percent decrease in March 2003.

Seasonally adjusted sales for the core retailing group (which excludes the motor vehicle retailing and motor vehicle services storetypes) fell by 0.7 percent in April 2003, compared with March 2003.

Nine of the 15 storetypes recorded lower seasonally adjusted sales in April 2003, compared with March 2003. The largest decreases occurred in the motor vehicle services (down $10 million) and recreational goods (down $7 million) storetypes. The largest increases occurred in the motor vehicle retailing (up $16 million) and food retailing (up $6 million) storetypes.

Most regions recorded lower seasonally adjusted sales in April 2003 compared with March 2003.

The Waikato and Rest of the North Island (which includes all areas outside the Auckland, Waikato and Wellington regions) were the only regions to show increases. Seasonally adjusted sales for the North Island region decreased $16 million, while the South Island region recorded a decrease of $5 million over the same period.

Total actual retail sales for April 2003 were $4,161 million – 3.0 percent higher than in April 2002.

Brian Pink
Government Statistician
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