September Quarter Retail Sales Up 2.3 Percent

September Quarter Retail Sales Up 2.3 Percent

Seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 2.3 percent in the September 2003 quarter, compared with the June 2003 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand. This was the result of monthly increases of 1.0 percent in July, 0.5 percent in August and 0.3 percent in September.

Fourteen of the 15 storetypes recorded higher seasonally adjusted sales, compared with the June 2003 quarter. The largest dollar value increases occurred in the motor vehicle services and department stores storetypes, up $62 million and $59 million respectively. The other stores storetype (down $14 million) was the only storetype to record a decrease.

The volume of seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 2.0 percent in the September 2003 quarter, compared with the June 2003 quarter. This follows increases of 1.7 percent in the June 2003 quarter and 0.9 percent in the March 2003 quarter.

All North Island regions recorded higher seasonally adjusted sales in the September 2003 quarter compared with the June 2003 quarter. The largest dollar value increase in seasonally adjusted sales occurred in the Auckland region, up $105 million. Both South Island regions also recorded increases, the largest being the Remainder of the South Island region (which includes all areas outside the Canterbury region), up $49 million.

Total actual retail sales for the September 2003 quarter were $12,887 million, 5.8 percent higher than in the September 2002 quarter.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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