Retail trade survey

Survey at a glance

About the survey

What is the purpose of the Retail Trade Survey?

The purpose of the Retail Trade Survey is to provide timely, short-term, indicator statistics on the retail industries of the economy. Twenty-four different storetypes are included in the retail industry. The survey provides:

• monthly and quarterly data on the value of retail sales
• quarterly data on the value of stockholding.

Results from the monthly Retail Trade Survey reflect the level of consumer spending which is an important indication of confidence in the New Zealand economy.

Who is included in this survey?

There are approximately 70,000 retail outlets in New Zealand. Around 3,500 businesses, operating between 9,000 and 10,000 retail outlets, have been selected to be in the Retail Trade Survey postal sample. The postal sample is supplemented by GST data representing smaller retailers.

The Retail Trade Survey covers 24 different storetypes in the retail industry:

• Supermarket and grocery stores
• Fresh meat, fish, poultry, fruit and vegetable retailing
• Liquor retailing
• Other food retailing
• Takeaway food retailing
• Department stores
• Furniture and floor coverings retailing
• Hardware retailing
• Appliance retailing
• Recreational goods retailing
• Clothing and softgoods retailing
• Footwear retailing
• Chemist retailing
• Household equipment repair services
• Other retailing
• Accommodation
• Bars and clubs
• Cafes and restaurants
• Personal and household goods hiring
• Other personal services
• Motor vehicle retailing
• Automotive fuel retailing
• Automotive electrical services, smash repairing and tyre retailing
• Automotive repair and services not elsewhere classified

Further information on the Retail Trade Survey.

What is this information used for?

Results from the Retail Trade Survey are important components of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). They are used by economic forecasters to monitor consumer spending and general economic conditions.

The New Zealand Retailers Association uses information from this survey on behalf of its members, particularly to consider regional economic conditions. Individual retailers can use the Retail Trade Survey information to monitor trends and to compare their own performance against their industry or region.

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About giving data

If our business is included in the survey, who should complete the survey?

Owner, manager, accountant, etc.

How often does this survey take place?

This survey takes place monthly.

What if my business is not involved in retailing?

Sometimes the way Statistics New Zealand classifies a business may be different from how the business itself describes its activities. The Retail Trade Survey includes businesses engaged in selling goods and services to the household sector. Some businesses sell to both households and to other businesses. Where this occurs, even if the dominant activity is selling to other businesses, the business may be classified as a retailer.

As well as retail shops, the Retail Trade Survey includes businesses selling services such as repairing household equipment or motor vehicles, hospitality services, dry-cleaning, photography and photographic processing, funeral services, hairdressing, gardening, and hire of videos or other personal or household goods.

If you are unsure why your business has been selected for the Retail Trade Survey, please ring our Survey Help Desk on 0800 809 464 or email us at surveys@stats.govt.nz to determine whether your business has been correctly classified.

How is my privacy protected?

Only people authorised by the Statistics Act 1975 are allowed to see your individual information, and they must use it only for statistical purposes. Your information will be combined with information from other respondents to prepare summary statistics. Statistics NZ makes sure that no individual can ever be identified when the results are published.

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About your obligations

Why should I provide information to Statistics New Zealand?

There is a legal requirement under the Statistics Act 1975 to provide the information requested. Also, the Retail Trade Survey collects information from only a sample of businesses, and it is very important that the sample accurately reflects all businesses, not just those that have been surveyed.

We appreciate that completing Statistics NZ forms can be time consuming and demanding. To assist businesses overcome reporting difficulties, we will work with you to manage these demands better. Please contact our Survey Help Desk on 0800 809 464 or by email to surveys@stats.govt.nz if you need help in providing information to us.

Will I be paid for providing information to Statistics New Zealand?

There is no authority in the Statistics Act 1975 for Statistics NZ to pay respondents for providing statistical information. We try to spread the obligation for providing data fairly across all businesses and surveys, and where possible, small and medium-sized businesses are included in only one or two surveys.

If you consider that your business is incurring unreasonable costs, in time or money, completing Statistics NZ surveys, please contact our Survey Help Desk on 0800 809 464 or by email to surveys@stats.govt.nz so that we can discuss with you ways of supplying the necessary information more easily.

Will my information be shared with other government agencies?

The Statistics Act 1975 states that:

• all information collected under the Act must be used only for statistical purposes
• no information is released by Statistics New Zealand in a form that could enable the person or undertaking to whom it relates to be identified.

Consequently, Statistics New Zealand does not share your information with other government agencies. Other government agencies can provide their information to Statistics New Zealand, but only for statistical purposes. Statistics New Zealand sometimes undertakes a statistical survey jointly with another government department or government agency. In all cases, respondents are informed that it is a joint collection. You may object to information being passed to the other party by writing to Statistics New Zealand. Where this right is exercised, Statistics New Zealand withholds the information from the other party.

Do I have to complete this questionnaire?

If your business has been selected for any Statistics NZ survey you must provide the information requested. We appreciate that completion of survey questionnaires may be time consuming and can be difficult from manual accounting records. Some people find it easier to provide the information by fax or by email. If you wish to provide information this way, please contact our Survey Help Desk on 0800 809 464 to discuss these options.

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About using information

Are results from the Retail Trade Survey available?

Yes, Retail Trade Survey results are published approximately six weeks after the end of the survey month and are available free of charge via the Statistics NZ website.

Is statistical information available?

Many statistics are available to you and your business as it is 'public good' information. This means that you can access this information free of charge, from this website, or by contacting our Customer Services staff via email info@stats.govt.nz, or by phone at your nearest Statistics New Zealand office. Our newsletters also contain information which you may find useful. The information available could assist you in business planning and for monitoring business performance.

Does Statistics New Zealand have information useful for my business?

We can provide information that could be helpful in determining how your business is performing. For instance we have information that can help in:

• economic monitoring
• target marketing
• estimating your market share
• benchmarking your business.

If you would like information for use in your business please phone 0508 525 525 and ask for customer services or send an email to info@stats.govt.nz.