Total online retail spending was up 13 per cent in November 2017 and six per cent in December 2017 compared to the previous corresponding periods.

According to the Bank of New Zealand’s Marketview monthly report, provisional December figures show total online spending increased on last year’s levels, but the growth rates for both domestic and overseas purchases took a big dip.

Total online retail spending in December was only up six per cent year-on-year. It was up seven per cent year-on-year at local merchants, but only four per cent at international sites.

Gary Baker, director of Institutional Research at the Bank of New Zealand, said they are cautious not to read too much into the low growth rate for international purchases at this stage.

“For example, perhaps this year consumers brought forward some of their international spending from December into November, which was a very strong month,” he said.

Sales of Food and Electronic goods at local merchants experienced strong growth in December. However international sites showed a year-on-year drop in Electronic goods sales, following standout sales growth for that sector in November.