The seasonally adjusted value of electronic card spending increased by 0.7 percent in May 2009, following a 0.8 percent increase in April, Statistics New Zealand said today. Both the retail and core retail series were also up in May 2009. The consumables industry (which includes food, liquor, and chemist retailing) was the main contributor to all these increases.
The value of transactions in core retail (which excludes the motor vehicle-related industries) was up 1.6 percent in May 2009, the third consecutive monthly increase. Led by consumables, all the core retail industry groups recorded increases in May.
Despite a decrease in automotive fuel retailing, the value of retail transactions was up 0.9 percent in May 2009, the fourth consecutive monthly increase.
The trends for the three main series (total, retail, and core retail) are all showing growth since January 2009. Latest figures indicate that the growth rate is slightly stronger than previous estimates. However, initial trend estimates may be revised and should be used with caution until more data points are available.
Monthly figures for the value of transactions made with credit and debit cards indicate that May 2009 had the highest proportion of debit card usage (56.9 percent) since the series began.
Dallas Welch (Mrs)
Acting Government Statistician |
10 June 2009 |
END
See also Hot Off The Press information release Electronic Card Transactions: May 2009.
For media enquiries contact:
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Christchurch 03 964 8700
Email: info@stats.govt.nz
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