New Zealand’s consumer spending slightly fell in April, with most retail sectors experiencing negative or low sales during the month.

Worldline NZ data shows consumer spending through its core retail merchants slid 1.8 per cent to $2.89 billion, with only food and liquor stores witnessing a 3 per cent sales growth.

Other core retail store sales declined 5.4 per cent while accommodation sales decreased 2.4 per cent.

Food and beverage service sales, meanwhile, remained flat during the month.

“April 2024 fundamentally differed to April 2023 in that the dates for Easter changed, as did the day of the week on which Anzac Day fell,” said Bruce Proffit, chief sales officer at Worldline NZ.

“There were also two extra ‘low-trading’ days in April 2024 (a Monday and Tuesday) which were a Saturday and Sunday in April 2023.”

Meanwhile, South Island suffered the sharpest decline of 7.7 per cent, with Profitt attributing it to the extreme weather conditions in the region from April 9 to 12.

Conversely, Whanganui saw the highest growth of 3.3 per cent, followed by West Coast at 1.3 per cent.