Retail spending in New Zealand was clearly impacted by the shifting lockdown levels seen last month.

Despite Auckland being the only area to fall into Level 3 lockdown, the country’s retail industry still suffered albeit at different levels.

For the period between the 14th and 18th of February, spending through Paymark was dropped 21 per cent among core retail merchants in Auckland and Northland, recording $44 million less spending than was expected.

In the rest of the country, which was under Level 2 lockdown, spending amongst Paymark’s core retail merchants fell 2 per cent, equivalent to $6 million.

Despite the decline, Auckland’s food and liquor shops recorded an increase in sales before and after the lockdown. The big spending falls in the city came amongst the cafes and bars within the hospitality sector and the wide range of shops within the rest of the core retail sector.

Elsewhere in New Zealand, there was also generally lower spending than expected amongst hospitality and other core retail merchants but the decline was not significant.