NZ retail sales up 1.5% in November

Friday 21st January 2011

Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 1.5% or $82 million in November from October, boosted by rises to vehicle and fuel sales, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) says.

Figures out today show vehicle and parts retailing rose 11.8% or $69 million, seasonally adjusted, in November. That followed a 14.3% fall in October, the largest decrease recorded for the sector since 2005.

In November fuel sales were up 3.6% or $20 million, on top of a rise of 6.2% or $33 million in October.

The trend for fuel retailing had risen 5.2% since last July, but in November was 14% lower than its peak in July 2008, SNZ said.

Core retail sales, which exclude the vehicle-related industries, slipped 0.2% or $7 million, following a fall of 1.6% in October and a rise of 1.7% in September. Supermarket and grocery store retailing fell 2.8% or $40 million in November, while electrical and electronic goods sales lifted 5.8% or $11 million.

The 1.5% rise in total sales in November followed a 2.4% fall in October and a 2% rise in September.

SNZ said it was likely the figures in September and October were influenced by a rise in GST on October 1.

Actual sales in November were 2.5% or $136 million higher than a year earlier. Core retail sales were up 0.6% or $28 million over the same period.

NZPA

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