Christchurch retail sales continue to grow 

Christchurch CBDChristchurch city retail and hospitality sales continue to grow, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Sales for the June 2015 quarter were $1.9 billion, a 2.9 per cent increase compared with the same quarter in 2014. This follows a 4.8 per cent increase in the March quarter compared with the same quarter in 2014.

After seasonal fluctuations are removed, Christchurch’s retail and hospitality sales increased 0.5 per cent in the June 2015 quarter, compared with an increase of 0.1 per cent at the national level.

“Hospitality sales led the growth in Christchurch this quarter,” business indicators senior manager, Neil Kelly, said. “However, while both retail and hospitality sales increased in the June quarter, the growth wasn’t as strong as we’ve seen in recent quarters.”

Looking at the longer-term picture, the trend for retail and hospitality sales in Christchurch has risen 28 per cent since the June 2010 quarter, before the earthquakes began. This compares with a 22 per cent rise at the national level.

The Christchurch retail trade indicator series measures activity in the retail and hospitality industries. It provides information on the state of these industries after the Canterbury earthquakes that began in September 2010.

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