Business Activity (GST) Indicator: March 2000 quarter
GST Returns Show Sales Eased in March Quarter
Latest quarterly analysis of GST returns show the trend in total sales easing according to Statistics New Zealand. This
follows a period of strong growth during most of 1999. The analysis includes all sales by businesses subject to GST and
provides a broad based indicator of economic activity.
Seasonally adjusted sales increased by 0.3 per cent in the March 2000 quarter, despite a decline in the January month.
The largest contributions to the quarterly increase came from transport, storage and communications; and retail trade.
The communications industry has shown solid growth over the past two years, buoyed by new technologies. Improved
performance of motor vehicle retailing has contributed to retail growth in the March quarter, although latest retail
statistics show a fall off in June.
Ian Ewing
Deputy Government Statistician
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