New Zealand card spending (April): Retail +1.1% m/m (expected 0.6%) & Total +0.5% m/m

Spending data from New Zealand

Retail up 1.1% on the month

• expected 0.6% m/m, prior -0.3%
• For the y/y, up 4.5%

Via Stats NZ: "

• The rise in retail card spending in April was driven by a record increase in grocery and liquor spending, which follows flat March and February months," business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said. "This was the largest increase in grocery and liquor spending since the series began."

Spending rose in three of the six retail industries in April. The largest movements were:

• consumables, up $42 million (2.2 percent)
• durables, up $15 million (1.3 percent)

Total up 0.5% m/m (includes the two non-retail industries; services, & other non-retail):

• prior +0.5%

More:

Core retail spending (excludes vehicle-related industries) +1.4% in April

• Was unchanged for March

--

This data point is for spending via cards (not cash). Card spending covers around 68% of retail sales in New Zealand.