Retail Sales Increase 0.7 Percent

Retail Sales Increase 0.7 Percent

Seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 0.7 percent in May 2003 compared with April 2003, according to Statistics New Zealand.

This follows decreases of 0.3 and 0.8 percent in April and March 2003, respectively. Seasonally adjusted sales for the core retailing group (which excludes the motor vehicle retailing and motor vehicle services storetypes) increased by 1.2 percent in May 2003, compared with April 2003.

Ten of the 15 storetypes recorded increases in seasonally adjusted sales in May 2003, compared with April 2003. The largest increases occurred in the motor vehicle retailing (up $19 million) and recreational goods (up $12 million) storetypes.

Of the five storetypes that decreased in sales, the largest decreases occurred in the motor vehicle services (down $28 million) and food retailing (down $6 million) storetypes. Three of the six regions recorded higher seasonally adjusted sales in May 2003 compared with April 2003.

The Auckland region recorded the largest increase (up $26 million) and the Waikato region recorded the largest decrease (down $5 million). Seasonally adjusted sales for the North Island region increased $32 million, while the South Island region recorded an increase of $8 million over the same period.

Total actual retail sales for May 2003 were $4,313 million – 4.2 percent higher than in May 2002.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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