Little movement in retail sales

Seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 0.4 percent ($20 million) in August 2008, Statistics New Zealand said today. Fourteen of the 24 retail industries recorded small movements, less than plus or minus $2 million. Core retailing, which excludes the four vehicle-related industries, rose 0.8 percent ($32 million).

Leading the sales increases were supermarket and grocery stores, up 1.2 percent ($14 million) and department stores, up 2.5 percent ($8 million).

The largest sales decrease was in automotive fuel retailing, which fell 3.3 percent ($21 million). Survey respondents attributed lower sales to the decrease in fuel prices during August.

The total retail sales trend has been flat since December 2007.

All North Island regions had increased seasonally adjusted sales in August 2008, while in South Island regions sales fell.