Spending levels rise in the central city

Consumer confidence is buoyant in Christchurch despite the Covid crisis, with more than half a billion dollars landing in the coffers of retailers and eateries last month.

Spending on shopping and eating in October was up 12 per cent to $39 million, compared with the same month last year. Spending across the city rose 7 per cent in the same period to $506m.

The figures, from economic development and promotional agency ChristchurchNZ, show locals and visitors spent more money compared with the previous October on almost all categories except for fuel and accommodation.

Spending jumped on homewares and hardware, clothing and personal items, cafe and restaurant meals, groceries and liquor, and department store shopping.

The spending continues a trend seen since the end of the Covid lockdown. September spending was also higher than normal, partly boosted by the school holidays.

Dave Cameron, co-owner of Scorpio Books in the BNZ Centre, said trade was between 10 per cent and 20 per cent higher than this time last year. He has had to hire more staff.

After a boost in sales post-lockdown, ‘‘it never really slowed down again to where it was last year’’, he said.

‘‘We’ve been waiting for it to slow down but it hasn’t, and now it’s starting to build towards Christmas.

‘‘It’s really heartening.’’ Customers were saying they wanted to buy locally, with fiction, the classics and children’s books proving popular, Cameron said. ‘‘But we’re not selling as many travel guides.’’

As well as local customers they were seeing more out-of-town visitors than usual, Cameron said.

ChristchurchNZ senior economist Peter Fieger said the increase in spending in some areas was significant.

Spending on home, hardware and electoral items was showing ‘‘exceptional growth’’, he said.

Fieger said it appeared people were