Broad-based decline in retail sales

In October 2007, seasonally adjusted total retail sales fell 0.7 percent ($40 million), Statistics New Zealandsaid today.

Sales fell for about two-thirds of the industries.

This followed a rise in total sales of 1.0 percent($54 million) in September 2007.

The industries that contributed the most to this month’s decrease were motor vehicle retailing, down 2.8percent ($20 million), supermarket and grocery stores retailing, down 1.1 percent ($13 million), andappliance retailing, down 4.7 percent ($10 million).

The only notable increase recorded was for automotive fuel retailing, up 3.5 percent ($18 million).

The average monthly trend increase between May 2007 and October 2007 eased to 0.2 percent, comparedwith an average increase of 0.6 percent between May 2006 and April 2007.

Seasonally adjusted sales fell for all regions except for the Remainder of North Island (excluding Auckland,Waikato and Wellington), which rose 0.3 percent ($4 million)