Total online retail spending in October was up nine per cent compared to October last year.

This is a slower growth rate than observed in preceding months. However, it seems likely that the softening in growth is at least partly due to the timing of purchases as opposed to a slowdown in trend.

Some of categories showing very strong growth in online spending in October, versus October last year, were: clothing, up 17 per cent; newspapers and books, up 21 per cent; entertainment media, up 26 per cent; and pharmaceutical and cosmetic goods, up 35 per cent. Growth in online spending on groceries and at department stores was also strong.

Growth in purchases from overseas slowed down in October, and domestic merchants gained market share.

However, it is too early to say whether this is a “blip” or whether factors such as the lower NZD are starting to affect purchase volumes.

For further information, click: https://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1512/NZ_Online_Retail_Sales_in_October_2015_20151202_FINAL.pdf