Vehicle-related industries boost November sales

The value of seasonally adjusted total retail sales rose 1.5 percent ($82 million) in the November 2010 month, Statistics New Zealand said today. This month's increase follows a 2.4 percent ($133 million) decrease in the October 2010 month.

“Retail sales have fluctuated in recent months,” business statistics manager Louise Holmes-Oliver said. “The November month’s rise was led by increases in both the vehicle-related industries.”

Motor vehicles and parts retailing rose 11.8 percent ($69 million) in November 2010 following a 14.3 percent ($97 million) fall in October 2010. Fuel retailing rose 3.6 percent ($20 million) in November 2010.

Core retail sales (which exclude the motor vehicle-related industries) were flat, down 0.2 percent ($7 million). Nine of the 13 core industries recorded increases in November 2010, however, these increases were offset by a decrease in supermarket and grocery stores sales.

Supermarket and grocery stores sales decreased 2.8 percent ($40 million), following an increase of 4.4 percent ($61 million) in October 2010. All other food and drink related industries also recorded decreases in November 2010.

The sales trend for total retail has been rising since February 2009 but has flattened over the past year. The sales trend for core retail has risen since February 2010 but has flattened in recent months.

In actual terms, total retail sales rose 2.5 percent ($136 million) in November 2010 compared with November 2009. Core retail sales rose 0.6 percent ($28 million) over the same period.

For more information on monthly sales movements, please see the Retail Trade Survey: November 2010 Hot Off the Press information release. 

Dallas Welch (Mrs) 21 January 2011

Acting Government Statistician