Card spending in Auckland has shown signs of recovery during a week of retail therapy after stores were allowed to reopen as part of the move to Alert Level 3.2.

Spending exceeded the level before the Delta lockdown, according to the Bank of New Zealand. 

Chief economist at the BNZ, Paul Conway, said carding spending in the city during the week ending November 16 was up 27 per cent compared to the week before, and 7-per-cent higher than pre-Delta levels. 

“Retailers had been waiting a long time for the freedoms that Alert Level 3 Step 2 brought, and Aucklanders dusted off their wallets and didn’t disappoint,” said Conway. 

Department stores, clothing and furniture sectors have all increased sales by more than 100 per cent compared to the week before. 

“It’s great to see this bounce, and we will continue to monitor the situation to see how the run-up to Christmas is affected by the new traffic light system,” Conway added.

During the Delta lockdown, the trading restrictions in Auckland were particularly tough on those businesses who couldn’t provide contactless service, or where it wasn’t profitable.