Cars and supermarkets lift retail sales

13 July 2007

Cars and supermarkets lift retail sales

Seasonally adjusted total retail sales rose 1.2 percent in May 2007, Statistics New Zealand said today. This increase was strongly influenced by rises in the two largest retail industries, supermarket and grocery stores and motor vehicle retailing, both of which increased by over $20 million compared with April 2007.

This month’s rise in total sales follows a decrease of the same size in April, returning the sales level to that of March 2007.

The motor vehicle retailing industry has a strong influence upon the total sales movement due to its large size and volatility. With the vehicle-related industries removed, retail sales rose 0.8 percent in May 2007.

The majority of the 24 retail industries had relatively small sales movements, with 17 industries recording movements of $3 million or less in May, compared with April. The only notable decrease was for department stores, which recorded a decrease of $13 million. Seasonally adjusted sales increased across all regions in May 2007 compared with April 2007.

The trend in total retail sales continues to rise.

Geoff Bascand

Government Statistician

ENDS

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