Department Stores and Fuel Drive Retail Sales

Embargoed until 10:45am – 13 July 2006

Department Stores and Fuel Drive Retail Sales

Seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 1.3 percent in May 2006 compared with April 2006, Statistics New Zealand said today. This increase follows decreases of 0.2 percent in April and 0.9 percent in March.

Increases in seasonally adjusted sales were recorded for 15 of the 24 retail industries in May 2006.

Department stores and automotive fuel retailing contributed the largest increase (by value) in seasonally adjusted sales. Of the industries that increased, these two accounted for 51 percent of the sales movement between April and May 2006.

The largest decrease in seasonally adjusted sales was for supermarkets and grocery stores, down $17 million compared with April 2006.

On a regional basis, four of the six regions reported increases in seasonally adjusted sales for May 2006 compared with April 2006. Canterbury had the largest percentage increase, up 1.4 percent ($9 million), while Auckland had the largest dollar increase, up $15 million (0.9 percent).

The trend for total retail sales continues to increase, but has eased over recent months.

Geoff Bascand
Acting Government Statistician

ENDS

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