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NZ retail sales fall 0.8pc in 3Q

Total value of retail sales in New Zealand fell 0.8 percent, while retail sales volume dropped 0.4 percent in the quarter ending September 2012.

Statistics New Zealand said the fall was led by drops in three of the largest retail industries: supermarket and grocery stores (down 1.6 percent); motor vehicle and parts retailing (down 1.8 percent); and fuel retailing (down 1.9 percent).

It said the only industry that posted a significant increase (up 3.6 percent) was the hardware, building, and garden supplies sector.

Statistics New Zealand noted that in value terms, the sales trend for this industry has been increasing. Since the June 2011 quarter, sales were up 7.7 percent. Compared with the September 2011 quarter, the September 2012 quarter showed that volume of total actual retail sales rose 2.3 percent.

Regionally, the retail trends are mixed. Value of retail sales in Auckland was up almost 25 percent since a prolonged period of decline (between the June 2007 and March 2009 quarters). In Wellington, sales were down 2.2 percent since relatively strong growth between the December 2009 and December 2011 quarters, while in Waikato, growth has since strong rises between the June 2011 and March 2012 quarters.

Meanwhile, retail sales in the remainder of the north island were down 2.8 percent since moderate growth between the December 2010 and December 2011 quarters. In Canterbury, sales were up 12 percent since a small drop in the December 2010 quarter, while sales in the remainder of the South Island were down 1.1 percent since relatively strong growth between the March 2011 and March 2012 quarters.

Statistics New Zealand said in separate report however, that retail activity in Christchurch has risen strongly for a second consecutive quarter.

After seasonal fluctuations are removed, total retail activity increased 2.1 percent in the September 2012 quarter, which follows another healthy rise of 2.5 percent in the June 2012 quarter.

It said the increase was the result of strong rises in both retail trade, and accommodation and food services, up 1.6 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.

“Christchurch’s sales growth fell behind the rest of the country after the quakes began,” industry and labour statistics manager Tehseen Islam said. “But strong rises in the past two quarters, coupled with this quarter’s decrease in national retail figures, has helped to narrow that gap.”

The Christchurch retail trade indicator is an experimental series. It is released by Statistics New Zealand to provide information on the state of the Christchurch retail trade industry after the Canterbury earthquakes that began in September 2010.