Retail spending using electronic cards in March 2015 came in at $4.7 billion, up $167 million, or 3.7 per cent on March 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 0.8 per cent in March 2015 compared with February 2015. This rise follows a 1.1 per cent rise in February.

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

“The largest increase came from the consumables industry.”

Core retail spending, which excludes the vehicle related industries, rose 0.8 per cent in March 2015, following a 1.2 per cent rise in February 2015.

The total value of electronic card spending, including the two non-retail industries (services and other non-retail), rose 1.3 per cent. This rise follows a 0.4 per cent rise in February 2015.

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

This data is not adjusted for price changes and is available only at the national level.