Retail spending using electronic cards was up $160 million, or 3.8 per cent to $4.4 billion in February 2015 compared with February 2014, according to Statistics New Zealand.

In actual terms, card spending rose in all retail industries except for fuel.

When adjusted for seasonal effects, retail spending was up one per cent in February 2015 compared with January 2015. This rise follows small falls in each of the previous three months.

“After removing seasonal effects, spending rose in five of the six retail industries,” Statistics NZ business indicators manager, Neil Kelly, said.

“Hospitality and durables had the largest rises, while fuel rose for the first time in three months.”

Core retail spending excluding vehicle related industries) rose 1.2 per cent in February 2015, following a one per cent rise in January 2015.

The total value of electronic card spending, including the two non-retail industries, services and other non-retail, rose 0.4 per cent, following a 0.1 per cent rise in January 2015.

Trends for the total, retail, and core retail series have generally been rising since these series began in October 2002, although the total and retail series have eased in recent months.