Retail sales up 0.8% in November, led by fuel spending

In November 2009, total retail sales were up 0.8 percent ($46 million), following two months of flat results, Statistics New Zealand said today. The latest increase was led by automotive fuel retailing (up $20 million), and the "˜other retailing' industry (up $17 million). 'Other retailing' includes activities such as retailing antique and used goods, flowers, garden supplies, and watches and jewellery. Core retail sales (which exclude the four vehicle-related industries) were also up 0.8 percent ($34 million), following a 0.5 percent increase in October 2009. Other significant movements by industry included:

• department stores "“ up $11 million
• liquor retailing "“ up $9 million
• automotive electrical, smash repairs and tyres "“ up $9 million
• motor vehicle retailing "“ down $17 million.

The total retail sales trend has been rising since February 2009 (up 2.5 percent), at an average rate of 0.3 percent per month. Since February 2009, the core retail trend has also increased at an average rate of 0.3 percent per month, compared with an average increase of 0.1 percent between April 2007 and February 2009. The value of seasonally adjusted sales was flat in the North Island (up just 0.2 percent) and rose in the South Island (up 1.8 percent). The only region with a sales decrease was Auckland, down 0.5 percent. The sales trend has been rising in the North Island since February 2009 (up 2.6 percent), and in the South Island since June 2009 (up 1.9 percent). In the South Island the rate of increase appears to be strengthening.