For the first time in at least 15 years retail sales at the country's supermarkets and grocery stores were lower in May than they were a year earlier.The $1.24 billion spent in supermarkets and grocery stores during May was just down just $1m over the yea
For the first time in at least 15 years retail sales at the country's supermarkets and grocery stores were lower in May than they were a year earlier.
The $1.24 billion spent in supermarkets and grocery stores during May was just down just $1m over the year, but that compared to an average increase of 5.8 percent when sales were compared to those from the same month a year earlier, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said today.
Until recently supermarket and grocery store sales had regularly contributed the bulk of increases in core retail sales.
For the whole core retail sector, which excludes vehicle-related industries, sales were down 0.6 percent for the year -- only the fourth time year-on-year core sales have fallen since the series started in 1995.
The long term average change for core retailing, when monthly figures were compared to those from a year earlier, was a rise of 4.8 percent, SNZ said.
The fall in actual core sales in May was led by a 7.7 percent or $14m fall in recreational goods, while liquor sales fell 11.6 percent or $12m and sales in cafes and restaurants fell 2.8 percent or $9m.
The only core retail industry to record an actual rise over the year greater than $10m was accommodation, which rose 8.3 percent or $14m.
Total retail sales, which includes vehicle industries, were up 1.9 percent or $98m in May from a year earlier, led by a 16.8 percent or $88m rise in vehicle sales, and a 5.8 percent or $30m rise in vehicle fuel sales.
Seasonally adjusted, total retail sales in May were 0.4 percent above those in April, led by a 7.5 percent rise in vehicle sales.
Appliance sales lifted 3.9 percent and automotive electrical, smash repair and tyre sales were up 6.3 percent.
Vehicle fuel sales fell 1.9 percent from April to May, while accommodation fell 3.6 percent, and cafes and restaurants were down 2 percent.
Core retail sales fell a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent during the month, led by a 2 percent fall in the combined hospitality industries.
