Another monthly improvement in retail spending from card transactions in New Zealand has been recorded, as the industry rebounds from a quiet Christmas period.

Data from Stats NZ showed that retail spending increased by 1.4 percent from January to February, and spending in the core retail industries increased by 1.6 percent across the same period.

With the total spending figure surpassing $9 billion, February also represented an increase year-on-year, but it remains below the spending figures in 2024.

Consumable products make up the largest portion of the data, seeing a $49 million increase month-on-month. Spending on hospitality, durable goods and clothing also increased; fuel and motor vehicle spending declined.

Stats NZ said that cardholders made 168 million transactions across all industries in February, with an average value of $55 per transaction.