Total retail sales for the June 2018 quarter have lifted due to strengthened spending in most retail industries, according to Stats NZ.
In actual terms, the value of total retail sales was NZ$22.9 billion in the June 2018 quarter, up 3.8 per cent from the June 2017 quarter, up NZ$834 million.
Retail sales volume rose 1.1 per cent, seasonally adjusted, a large jump when compared to the modest 0.3 per cent rise in the March quarter.
Stats NZ retail trade manager Sue Chapman noted the quarter had growth in a number of industries, some of which had fallen last quarter.
“Consumer spending is humming along with trade and DIY customers boosting sales in the hardware and building supplies sector,” Chapman said, with the hardware and building supplies sector showing the largest increase of the quarter, up 4.7 per cent.
“Interestingly, we also saw higher regional growth for the Auckland, Waikato, and Wallington regions in this construction-related industry.”
Out of the 15 retail industries covered, 11 had higher sales volumes in the quarter, with the next largest rises seen in the food and beverage services (up 1.7 per cent) and department stores (up 2.8 per cent), while supermarket and grocery stores fell 1.1 per cent, followed by fuel (down 0.7 per cent).
