The total volume of retail sales fell 1.9 percent in the December 2023 quarter according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
This follows falls in seven consecutive quarters, after adjusting for price and seasonal effects.
“Ongoing falls in retail activity over the last two years were marked by a fall in most industries in the December quarter,” business financial statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said.
Fourteen of the 15 retail industries had lower sales volumes in the December 2023 quarter compared with the September 2023 quarter.
The largest contributors to the fall in retail activity in the December 2023 quarter were:
- motor vehicle and parts retailing – down 2.5 percent
- food and beverage services – down 2.4 percent
- fuel retailing – down 3.6 percent.
The only industry with an increase was pharmaceutical and other store-based retailing, up 0.3 percent. This industry includes retail of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, stationery, flowers, duty-free goods, and other store-based retailing.
Without adjusting for price and seasonal effects, total retail sales values fell 0.4 percent in the December 2023 quarter compared with the December 2022 quarter. This is the first fall since those seen during nationwide COVID-19 lockdowns in the September 2021 and June 2020 quarters. The last fall prior to COVID-19 was in the September 2009 quarter.
