Fuel boosts retail sales

Seasonally adjusted total retail sales rose 1.9 percent in the December 2007 quarter compared with theSeptember 2007 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Sales for the core retailing industries (whichexclude vehicle-related sales) rose 0.4 percent.

The major contributor to this quarter's increase was automotive fuel retailing, with seasonally adjusted salesup 15.1 percent or $229 million.

During the December quarter, prices for the automotive fuel industry wereat their highest since mid-2006.

Seasonally adjusted sales volumes in the automotive fuel retailing industryrose 3.0 percent or $27 million.

Twelve other industries had sales increases this quarter, the largest was in clothing and softgoods retailing,up 5.1 percent or $32 million.

Eleven industries had sales decreases, the largest was in furniture and floorcoverings retailing, down 2.5 percent or $10 million.

Seasonally adjusted total sales volumes rose 0.3 percent in the December 2007 quarter compared with theSeptember 2007 quarter.

Volumes in the core retailing industries rose less than 0.1 percent.

The largestincrease in sales volumes was in clothing and softgoods retailing, up 5.0 percent or $29 million.

Regionally, seasonally adjusted retail sales increased in all regions in the December 2007 quarter. InAuckland and Waikato, this quarter's increase followed two quarters of decreased sales.

The quarterly trend in total sales has been rising since the June 1998 quarter.In the December 2007 month, seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 0.1 percent compared with November 2007.

Core retailing sales rose 0.3 percent. Of the 24 retail industries, 13 had sales increases,the biggest were in automotive fuel retailing and department stores retailing.

The monthly trend in total retail sales has been rising since May 1998