The total value of overall credit card spending in New Zealand added a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent on month in April, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday.
That follows the 0.5 percent gain in March.
Retail electronic spending jumped 1.1 percent on month, exceeding forecasts for 0.6 percent following the 0.3 percent decline in the previous month.
Retail spending using electronic cards was NZ$5 billion in April, up NZ$218 million (4.5 percent) from a year earlier.
The largest rise came from the consumables industry, up NZ$42 million (2.2 percent). The consumables industry includes grocery and liquor retailing.
"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 in the core retail areas (which excludes the vehicle-related industries) climbed 1.4 percent in April after showing no change in March.
by RTT Staff Writer
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