Sporting spend-up
Lions tour, Masters Games boost retail sales
Retail sales rose in the June quarter thanks to greater consumer spending during the World Masters Games and the Lions rugby tour.
Sales volumes gained 2 per cent in the three months ended June 30, after a 1.6 per cent rise in the March quarter, Statistics New Zealand figures show. The value of retail sales rose 1.6 per cent, compared with the record 2.5 per cent increase in the March quarter.
Twelve of the 15 industries surveyed posted higher sales volumes, while 11 reported increased values. The food and beverage sector, which includes cafes, restaurants, bars, takeaways and catering, had a record volume increase of 4.2 per cent, with the value of sales rising 4.6 per cent, the strongest increase across all the industries surveyed.
“With more than 28,000 people attending the World Masters Games in late April, and the surge of 23,000 visitors from the UK and Ireland, many arriving for the Lions rugby series starting in June, there was an expected lift for food and drink providers,” business indicators senior manager Daria Kwon said.
“Accommodation sales also showed the strongest increase in three years, up 6.1 per cent, which was reflected by a 14 per cent rise in international guest nights in the June accommodation survey.”
Consumer confidence has stayed relatively upbeat as strong employ- ment growth and the Government’s families package support household incomes. Economists will get another update on Thursday with the release of the ANZ Roy Morgan consumer confidence survey.
Sales of electronic goods rose 5.2 per cent and motor vehicle and parts retailing 1.7 per cent, tailing off after a 4.9 per cent increase in the March quarter and a 4.1 per cent increase in December 2016.
Statistics NZ is introducing new methodology using more administrative data and less survey data and will publish details before its next release in November.