New Zealander’s spending online increased again in August, with offshore merchants continuing to attract Kiwi shoppers.
August’s total online retail spending was up five per cent compared with August last year, according to the BNZ Online Retail Sales Report.
Online purchases with domestic merchants increased by just 0.5 per cent, compared with an increase of 13 per cent with offshore merchants.
Domestic retailers had an increase in sales of three per cent compared with August 2013, excluding the daily sales sector, which continues to decline.
These figures are similar to the annual growth rate of total spending at local retailers which was 2.9 per cent in August.
With local retailers there appears to be a convergence in bricks and clicks growth rates over the past six months, with online spending growing just 1.5 per cent per annum faster than total retail spending.
In the six months prior, growth rates differed to a great extent at 5.7 per cent in favour of online shopping. However, several sectors are continuing to have growth into the double digits, including groceries, other specialised food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and toiletry, footwear, and computers and peripherals.
An August increase in Kiwis sending their dollars offshore was seen in particular categories. These were clothing with an increase of 18 per cent compared with August 2013, electrical and electronic with a increase of 24 per cent, and an increase of 22 per cent in the computers and peripherals, and pharmaceutical, cosmetic and toiletry categories.
