New Zealand April Card Spending Declines as Retail Activity Weakens

New Zealand’s electronic card spending weakened in April, with lower spending seen across all key retail categories, according to data released by Stats NZ on Tuesday.

After seasonal adjustment, retail card spending fell 1.3 percent from March, a drop of 89 million New Zealand dollars, or about 52.12 million U.S. dollars. Core retail spending also decreased by 1.3 percent.

Stats NZ said every major retail category recorded a decline during the month. Consumables saw the largest fall, down 60 million New Zealand dollars, or 2.1 percent. Spending on hospitality dropped 1.3 percent, while durables fell 1.1 percent.

Fuel spending was down 11 million New Zealand dollars, or 2 percent. Motor vehicle-related spending declined 4.1 percent, and apparel spending fell 1.3 percent.

Spending outside the retail sector also weakened. Non-retail industries, excluding services, fell by 94 million New Zealand dollars, or 4 percent. This category includes areas such as medical and other health care, travel and tour arrangements, and postal and courier delivery. Services spending decreased by 12 million New Zealand dollars, or 3 percent.

Across all industries, total electronic card spending declined by 160 million New Zealand dollars, or 1.6 percent, Stats NZ said.

In actual, unadjusted terms, cardholders made 168 million transactions across all industries in April. The average transaction value was 55 New Zealand dollars, with total spending reaching 9.2 billion New Zealand dollars.

Stats NZ said the figures are based on aggregated electronic card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants. The data are commonly used as an indicator of consumer spending and wider economic activity.