Data points to weak Christmas for retailers
New data points to a poor Christmas for retailers, with seasonally adjusted electronic card transactions falling 1.2 percent in December from November.
For just retail industries, the fall was a seasonally adjusted 0.9 percent, while for core retail, which excludes vehicle-related industries, the fall was 1.6 percent.
Statistics New Zealand said all industries had recorded falls, except for fuel retailing which rose 3.3 percent.
Electronic card transactions of durable items -- including furniture, hardware and appliances -- were down a seasonally adjusted 1.2 percent, while for consumables -- such as food and liquor -- the fall was 0.6 percent.
The decline follows increases of at least 1 percent in the total value of electronic card transactions for each of the preceding three months.
The actual value of transactions in the core retail series was 3.9 percent higher than in December 2009.
NZPA
Thu, 13 Jan 2011
Thu, 13 Jan 2011
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Data points to weak Christmas for retailers
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