Kiwis still planning to spend

WELLINGTON: The magnitude of the pandemic has not taken the cheer out of the summer holiday season and more than half of New Zealanders plan to spend as much this year as they did last year.

A survey of 777 consumers by professional services firm Accenture indicates nearly one in six were feeling more optimistic and will spend more this year, about a third were planning to cut back, and just over half planned to hold their spending at last year's level.

Accenture New Zealand managing director Ben Morgan said overall, Kiwis' spending intentions could best be described as cautiously optimistic.

``That likely reflects how Kiwis are feeling at the moment in terms of the nation's economic prospects.''

Despite a somewhat conservative stance, New Zealanders were more optimistic than consumers in some large economies, as 41% of United States and 36% of British shoppers planned to spend less.

However, the pandemic had changed the way people shop.

One in five were unwilling to venture instore, opting instead for home delivery, although 79% were still prepared to visit shops.

Sixtythree percent planned to shop online, and a quarter would use a mobile device to make their purchases.

The research also found a third would be willing to pick up instore if they were given an incentive to do so.

People were planning to spend an average of $562 this holiday season on gifts and groceries. Parents were still the biggest spenders ($679), followed by Gen Z ($631) and males ($635), while women trailed behind ($503), and singles were the most abstemious (around $420$440), according to the survey.