Stats NZ figures show that total card spending rose by 1.3% in June, with a big surge in fuel spending as the excise duty cut ended being a big factor

The big surge in petrol spending as customers got in to beat the excise duty rise at the end of June helped boost overall card spending by 1.3% in the month (seasonally adjusted).

This reversed a 1.9% drop in card spending in May.

Stats NZ said spending in the retail industries increased 1.0% ($68 million) in June on a seasonally adjusted basis. But that included a 3.8% surge in fuel spending.

Spending in the 'core' retail industries - excluding fuel and motor vehicles - was unchanged in June. 

Stats NZ said by spending category, the movements over the month were:

• fuel, up $20 million (3.8%)
• durables, up $8.2 million (0.5%)
• apparel, up $6.6 million (2.0%)
• motor vehicles (excluding fuel), up $5.1 million (2.4%)
• consumables, up $5.0 million (0.2%).

The non-retail (excluding services) category increased by $60 million (2.8%) from May 2023. This category includes medical and other health care, travel and tour arrangement, postal and courier delivery, and other non-retail industries.

The services category was up $5.0 million (1.4%). This category includes repair and maintenance, and personal care, funeral, and other personal services.

In terms of the June quarter picture, Stats NZ said overall card spending was up 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis from the March quarter.

Spending in the retail industries increased $124 million (0.7%), while spending in the 'core' retail industries (again, excluding fuel and motor vehicles) increased $131 million (0.8%).

By spending category, the movements were:

• consumables, up $152 million (2.0%)
• durables, up $58 million (1.1%)
• motor vehicles (excluding fuel), up $5.1 million (0.8%)
• apparel, down $35 million (3.4%)
• fuel, down $121 million (7.2%).

The non-retail (excluding services) category was up $390 million (6.4%), and the services category was up $26 million (2.5%).