Little movement in retail sales

Seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 0.2 percent in August 2007 compared with July 2007,Statistics New Zealand said today.

Excluding vehicle-related industries, the core retailing industriesincreased 0.8 percent.Most industries recorded small dollar value increases or decreases in August. T

he biggest dollarmovements were in supermarket and grocery stores (up 1.5 percent) and automotive fuel retailing(down 2.9 percent).

The total retail sales trend has flattened in recent months.On a regional basis, seasonally adjusted sales decreased in Auckland, but increased in all other regions.

Sales trends in Auckland and the Waikato continue to fall.Geoff Bascand Government Statistician12 October 2007

There is a companion Hot Off The Press information release published – Retail Trade Survey: August 2007.