Supermarkets lift retail sales

In January 2008, seasonally adjusted total retail sales rose slightly, up 0.3 percent ($18 million), StatisticsNew Zealand said today.

This month’s increase was largely due to a 2.1 percent ($25 million) increase inthe supermarket and grocery stores industry.

This is the largest retail industry, accounting for about one-fifthof total retail sales.

Excluding the four vehicle-related industries, core retail sales also rose 0.3 percent inJanuary.

Fifteen of the 24 retail industries recorded decreased sales in January 2008.

However, the majority ofthese decreases were small, with only three industries falling by more than $4 million.

The largestdecreases were in appliance retailing, takeaway food retailing and department stores.

The remaining nineindustries had sales increases, the largest of which were supermarket and grocery stores and bars andclubs.

The trend for total retail sales continues to rise at a steady rate, bolstered by the recent strong risein automotive fuel retailing sales.

The total trend would be rising at a slower pace if this industry wasexcluded.

The core retail sales trend has flattened since April 2007.

The last time the core retailing trendremained flat for a similar period of time was between mid-1997 and mid-1998.

Seasonally adjusted sales rose for all regions except Waikato, which fell slightly.

Wellington recorded itslargest increase since June 2004, up 2.8 percent in January 2008