Retail Trade Survey: February 2006
13 April 2006
February Retail Sales Increase
Seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 1.9 percent in February 2006 compared with January 2006, Statistics New
Zealand said today. This follows a flat January movement and a decrease of 0.2 percent in December 2005. Excluding the
vehicle-related industries, sales for the core retailing group were up 1.4 percent in February 2006.
Increases were recorded for 17 of the 24 retail industries in February 2006. Those industries recording larger
dollar-value increases were motor vehicle retailing (up $34 million), cafes and restaurants (up $20 million) and
accommodation (up $9 million). The increased sales in cafes, restaurants and accommodation coincided with the school
holiday period extending until after the Waitangi weekend break.
The underlying sales trend for the retail sector has continued to increase since May 1998, with an average monthly
increase of 0.5 percent.
On a regional basis, seasonally adjusted sales increased across New Zealand, with Auckland and the Remainder of the
North Island regions recording the largest increases in February 2006.
Brian Pink
Government Statistician
ENDS