New Zealand Retail Sales QoQ1995-2020 Data | 2021-2022 Forecast | Calendar

The volume of total retail sales in New Zealand declined a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2020 after a revised nill growth in the previous period, as COVID-19 restrictions dented demand. It was the largest drop in total volume sales in eight years, with 10 of the 16 regions showing declines. Sales were mainly dragged by a 7.5 percent drop in motor vehicles & partes compared to an unchanged print in the previous quarter. Also, sales of recreational goods fell 7.5 percent after growing 1.4 percent. In contrast, social distancing measures led to an 8.5 percent surge in sales of supermarkets & grocery stores (vs -1.2 percent). Year-on-year, retail trade growth slowed to 2.3 percent compared to 3.3 percent in the previous period.

The volume of total retail sales in New Zealand rose a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent in the last quarter of 2019, easing from an upwardly revised 1.7 percent increase in the previous period. Sales growth slowed in electrical and electronic goods (4.3 percent vs 4.4 percent in Q3); furniture, floor coverings, houseware & textiles (1.8 percent vs 5.1 percent); recreational goods (3.6 percent vs 4 percent); and food & beverage services (0.4 percent vs 1.7 percent). Also, sales dropped in supermarket & grocery (-1.1 percent vs 0.9 percent); department (-3.8 percent vs 3.8 percent); liquor (-1.2 percent vs 2.7 percent); hardware, building, and garden supplies (-0.1 percent vs 0.9 percent); and clothing, footwear, and accessories (-0.1 percent vs 0.7 percent). Year-on-year, retail trade went up 3.3 percent, following a 4.5 percent gain in the prior period.

The volume of total retail sales in New Zealand climbed 1.6 percent in the third quarter of 2019, after a 0.2 percent advance in the previous period and beating market expectations of a 1.2 percent gain. It was the largest rise in retail sales since Q4 2018, boosted by electrical and electronic goods (4.4 percent vs 5.2 percent in Q2), which coincided with some promoting sales of big screen televisions before the Rugby World Cup in Japan, which started near the end of September. Other significant rises in sales were recorded for furniture, floor coverings, houseware & textiles (5.1 percent vs -3.7 percent); recreational goods (4 percent vs 6.1 percent) and pharmaceutical & other store-based retailing (2.3 percent vs 2.4 percent). In contrast, accommodation sales declined 1.4 percent after a 1.6 percent advance in Q2, while specialised food sales decreased 1.3 percent (vs -1.7 percent). On an annual basis, retail sales jumped 4.5 percent following a 2.9 percent expansion.

The volume of total retail sales in New Zealand rose a modest 0.2 percent in the second quarter of 2019, after a 0.7 percent advance in the previous period and compared to market expectations of a 0.1 percent gain. Electrical and electronic goods had the largest increase (5 percent vs 0.3 percent), followed by recreational goods (6.2 percent vs 3.2 percent). In contrast, sales at supermarket and grocery stores fell 0.9 percent (vs 0.4 percent in Q1) and those at department stores declined 2.1 percent (vs 4.3 percent in Q1).