Electronic card spending down in December

The total value of electronic card transactions was down 1.2 percent in December 2010 when adjusted for seasonal effects, Statistics New Zealand said today. This follows increases of at least 1.0 percent in each of the three preceding months. All industries recorded falls, except for fuel retailing which was up 3.3 percent.

The value of transactions in the retail industries was down 0.9 percent in December 2010, following increases in each of the three previous months.

The value of transactions in core retail (which excludes the motor vehicle-related industries) was down 1.6 percent in December 2010. This fall was led by the durables and consumables industries. Durables (which includes furniture, hardware, and appliance retailing) decreased 1.2 percent in December, and consumables (which includes food and liquor retailing) decreased 0.6 percent.

Trends for the value of transactions in the total and retail series have continued to increase since early 2009. The trend for the core retail series has generally been increasing since the series began in October 2002 but has eased in recent months. 

This month's release implements the 2006 version of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC06). Previously published data have been updated to reflect this change in classification.

Electronic card transaction figures, which cover debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants, include GST.

Dallas Welch (Mrs) 13 January 2011

Acting Government Statistician