July Retail Sales Increase 1.1 Percent

July Retail Sales Increase 1.1 Percent

Seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 1.1 percent in July 2003 compared with June 2003, according to Statistics New Zealand. This follows increases of 0.6 percent in June 2003 and 0.7 percent in May 2003. Seasonally adjusted sales for the core retailing group (which excludes the motor vehicle retailing and motor vehicle services storetypes) increased 0.3 percent in July 2003, compared with June 2003.

Ten of the 15 storetypes recorded increases in seasonally adjusted sales in July 2003, compared with June 2003. The largest increases occurred in the motor vehicle retailing (up $20 million) and the motor vehicle services (up $19 million) storetypes. Of the five storetypes that recorded decreases in sales, the largest decrease occurred in the accommodation, hotels and liquor storetype (down $6 million).

Four of the six regions recorded higher seasonally adjusted sales in July 2003, compared with June 2003. The Remainder of the South Island region recorded the largest increase (up $17 million) and the Waikato and Canterbury regions both recorded decreases of $2 million.

Seasonally adjusted sales for the North Island increased $24 million, while the South Island recorded an increase of $16 million over the same period.

Total actual retail sales for July 2003 were $4,362 million – 6.6 percent higher than in July 2002.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

© Scoop Media