New Zealanders spent more than ever before on last weekend’s four-day-long Black Friday shopping festival.

Data from Worldline shows spending through core retail merchants on electronics and appliances, clothing, footwear, home and recreational wares – but excluding food, liquor and hospitality merchants – was up 7 per cent this year compared to last, and 11 per cent ahead of the pre-Covid level of 2019. 

“Overall, this record spend for the Black Friday sales weekend marks a strong start to the Christmas spending season”, said Worldline’s head of data, George Putnam.

“Covid-19 did impact on spending patterns between regions and sectors, but overall, people have gone out and taken advantage of the many sales on offer.”

There were significant regional differences in spending patterns. Year-on-year growth was strongest in Taranaki and Wairarapa, up by 24 per cent and 16 per cent respectively. 

“Spending in regions such as Marlborough, West Coast and Otago was up on last year but remains below pre-Covid levels. Other regions outside the large centres, such as Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Wanganui and Wairarapa, experienced spending between 16 to 28 per cent above pre-Covid levels,” said Putnam.

Spending growth in Auckland and Northland was near the national average but differed between sectors. Hardware and furniture sales were strong, while electrical goods traded below pre-Covid levels. 

Outside the goods sectors, there also remained lower spending at cafes and restaurants in Auckland/Northland, which were down 44 per cent versus 2019, in contrast to just 0.8 per cent for the rest of the country.