Retail Trade Survey: October 2000
Seasonally adjusted retail sales for October 2000 remain virtually unchanged, according to Statistics New Zealand.
Seasonally adjusted sales are $3,690 million, a decline of just 0.1 per cent when compared to September 2000. In the
core retailing group (excluding the motor vehicle services and retailing storetypes), seasonally adjusted sales declined
by 0.3 per cent.
Despite the flat October result the underlying sales trend has increased 14.2 per cent since June 1998. The increase
follows a plateau that ran between 1996 and June 1998.
Eight of the 15 storetypes recorded higher seasonally adjusted sales this month. Clothing and softgoods recorded the
largest decline.
Seasonally adjusted sales for appliance retailing declined slightly in October 2000 compared to September 2000. This
follows a buoyant September quarter which respondents attributed to inflation expectations and sales promotions.
Brian Pink GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN
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