Christmas Sales Statistics Report
23 December 2004
Last Minute Shopping Rush a Good Sign for Retailers Latest electronic transaction statistics highlight bumper Christmas
The annual last minute Christmas shopping rush is here according to the latest statistics from Paymark EFTPOS. Total
transactions on the Paymark EFTPOS network, which accounts for around 80% of all electronic transactions in New Zealand,
were up 9% for the first three days of this week (December 20-22) when compared to the same period last year.
Consumers have made over six million electronic transactions on the Paymark EFTPOS network over the three day period,
totaling over $387 million. Figures for the third week of December (December 13-19) were 4% up on the same week in 2003,
with 13.6 million transactions worth over $770 million to retailers.
Darryl Roots, Paymark spokesperson, says, “The statistics are a positive sign for retailers, and indicative of the
confidence found in consumers at the moment. Throughout 2004 we have seen consistently higher levels of transactions
when compared with 2003, and the results over the last three days show that on the whole the retail sector is enjoying a
great Christmas.”
“New Zealanders have a huge appetite for using electronic means of payment - even for relatively small ticket items, and
that is why the transaction volumes on our network are able to accurately reflect what is going on in the market. With
just one shopping day left before Christmas we expect to see a further increase in transaction volumes. Momentum should
then build again on Boxing Day with the now traditional post-Christmas sales.”
Ends.
Please Note: If you would like updated Paymark EFTPOS transaction volumes on Christmas Eve, please contact Darryl Roots
on 09 353 7942.
More detailed electronic transaction data is included on the following pages.
For further information, please contact Darryl Roots, Paymark spokesperson, 09 353 7942.
Released on behalf of ETSL by Network PR (Simon Kenny) telephone 021 739974
Paymark EFTPOS Transaction Data – Nov 29-Dec 23 2004
December 20th - 22th
Region Name Transaction
Volume Value
1 Auckland/Northland 2,318,111 154,187,358
2 Waikato 441,275 25,637,747
3 Bay of Plenty 414,436 25,151,261
4 Gisborne 61,160 3,313,949
5 Taranaki & Taupo 179,496 9,326,603
6 Hawkes Bay 192,583 10,959,057
7 Wanganui 70,786 3,587,147
8 Palmerston North 214,740 11,775,027
9 Wairarapa 61,807 3,519,796
10 Wellington 695,393 41,149,079
11 Nelson 135,997 8,444,458
12 Marlborough 84,128 5,251,270
13 West Coast 44,828 2,955,722
14 Canterbury 749,504 46,908,170
15 South Canterbury 103,081 6,094,213
16 Otago 314,342 19,731,831
17 Southland 155,761 9,969,182
Total 6,237,428 387,961,868
Note: Increase/decrease comparisons with last year cannot be made as a full week has not yet been completed.
13th - 19th (Dec2004 Wk3)
Region Name Transaction Inc/Dec
Volume Value on Previous Year
1 Auckland/Northland 5,117,024 306,327,226 4%
2 Waikato 957,937 50,940,491 5%
3 Bay of Plenty 895,651 49,289,441 4%
4 Gisborne 135,166 6,768,547 5%
5 Taranaki & Taupo 386,633 18,018,762 1%
6 Hawkes Bay 423,649 22,480,066 4%
7 Wanganui 151,527 7,103,570 3%
8 Palmerston North 462,771 24,029,142 -1%
9 Wairarapa 132,505 6,925,733 4%
10 Wellington 1,519,172 83,218,057 4%
11 Nelson 285,264 16,327,079 0%
12 Marlborough 176,590 10,095,082 7%
13 West Coast 95,379 5,787,641 4%
14 Canterbury 1,632,820 93,749,129 5%
15 South Canterbury 216,366 11,780,493 2%
16 Otago 693,150 39,849,955 3%
17 Southland 334,372 19,611,640 3%
Total 13,615,976 772,302,055 4%
6th - 12th (Dec2004 Wk2)
Region Name Transaction Inc/Dec
Volume Value on Previous Year
1 Auckland/Northland 4,770,624 276,183,893 7%
2 Waikato 894,654 45,509,999 8%
3 Bay of Plenty 834,831 44,384,071 8%
4 Gisborne 124,510 5,895,551 6%
5 Taranaki & Taupo 360,611 16,073,120 2%
6 Hawkes Bay 392,327 19,762,011 7%
7 Wanganui 142,065 6,474,676 7%
8 Palmerston North 450,974 21,886,371 6%
9 Wairarapa 123,212 6,205,060 5%
10 Wellington 1,413,797 74,591,414 8%
11 Nelson 264,518 14,537,730 3%
12 Marlborough 161,554 8,932,552 10%
13 West Coast 89,846 5,304,272 4%
14 Canterbury 1,506,924 83,796,218 8%
15 South Canterbury 202,868 10,657,956 7%
16 Otago 653,395 36,373,607 4%
17 Southland 309,522 17,431,478 4%
Total 12,696,232 693,999,978 7%
29 Nov - 5th (Dec2004 Wk1)
Region Name Transaction Inc/Dec
Volume Value on Previous Year
1 Auckland/Northland 4,559,868 264,269,407 7%
2 Waikato 854,817 43,893,922 8%
3 Bay of Plenty 785,353 42,773,206 6%
4 Gisborne 118,354 5,523,761 6%
5 Taranaki & Taupo 341,998 15,301,831 3%
6 Hawkes Bay 369,439 18,628,675 6%
7 Wanganui 136,618 6,220,144 8%
8 Palmerston North 427,877 21,230,114 6%
9 Wairarapa 120,487 6,034,772 6%
10 Wellington 1,349,977 72,073,641 9%
11 Nelson 252,367 14,160,722 5%
12 Marlborough 153,800 8,566,270 9%
13 West Coast 86,351 4,916,058 7%
14 Canterbury 1,470,003 83,250,889 10%
15 South Canterbury 192,508 10,180,061 8%
16 Otago 627,409 35,118,911 5%
17 Southland 293,104 16,754,461 5%
Total 12,140,330 668,896,845 7%
PAYMARK - KEY INFORMATION
Paymark EFTPOS has been issuing electronic transaction statistics for a number of years. The Paymark EFTPOS system
processes approximately 80% of New Zealand’s electronic payment transactions (both debit and credit). Therefore, it is
effectively able to measure fairly accurately the momentum of the retail marketplace.
The total electronic payment spend over the Christmas period is for the Paymark EFTPOS network only. It should be noted
that the overall percentage change includes not only growth in retail spend, but also the growth of electronic payments
as a payment mechanism over cash, cheque and other non-electronic forms of payment.
The Paymark, is New Zealand’s mark of electronic payment security. It ensures a secure future for electronic payments in
New Zealand. The Paymark is administered and developed by ETSL and owned by four major banks - ASB BANK, Bank of New
Zealand, The National Bank and Westpac.
All leading electronic payment cards (debit and credit) use the Paymark system. The Paymark network connects
approximately 55,000 retailers to their banks for payments processing. Each day an average of 1.5 million transactions
are processed by Paymark's processing systems on behalf of 3.5 million consumers and 60,000 retailers. The average time
it takes a transaction to pass through the Paymark switch is 0.07 of a second.
A point of payment marked with the Paymark means certification has taken place. The Paymark is a visible sign which
means that consumers’ point of payment is safe. The Paymark is not associated with organisations that cannot offer the
highest levels of security. This ensures the greatest protection for consumers and merchants. The terminal certification
specification for Paymark EFTPOS in New Zealand is among the most stringent worldwide. The Paymark network is among the
most reliable worldwide. ETSL has been awarded the prestigious International Tandem User Group Award for systems
availability for five of the past six years.
ENDS