July retail sales down

In July 2009, seasonally adjusted total retail sales were down 0.5 percent ($25 million), following flat sales in June 2009, Statistics New Zealand said today. In core retailing, which excludes the four vehicle-related industries, sales also fell 0.5 percent ($20 million).

The biggest changes were both in the motor vehicle-related industries; automotive fuel retailing fell 2.9 percent ($15 million) while motor vehicle retailing rose 2.1 percent ($11 million). These industries were the only two with movements exceeding $7 million; most industries moved up or down by less than $3 million.

In the core industries, the biggest movers were department stores (down 2.2 percent or $7 million), recreational goods retailing (up 3.3 percent or $7 million), and accommodation (also up 3.3 percent or $7 million). Of the twenty core industries, thirteen showed sales decreases in July 2009.

The total retail sales trend has increased 0.9 percent since February 2009, after falling 3.3 percent between February 2008 and February 2009. The core retail sales trend has been rising since September 1995 at an average of 0.4 percent per month. However, this rate of increase has slowed to 0.2 percent per month since December 2006.

Seasonally adjusted sales were up in Auckland (0.8 percent), and down in all other regions. The retail sales trend for the North Island has been rising over the past five months, whereas the South Island trend has been declining since February 2009.

Geoff Bascand 14 September 2009
Government Statistician