Shopping or Swimming – Boxing Day retail figures

Shopping or Swimming – Boxing Day retail figures for New Zealand

27 December, 2016

Spending through Paymark totalled $152.7 million on Boxing Day this year. While a new high for the day, this marks only a modest 1.9% increase in underlying spending on Boxing Day last year.

Wellington experienced the fastest growth of the major cities at 4.8%. However growth was strongest amongst regional centres in Taranaki (+7.3%), Nelson (+6.0%), Otago (+5.7%) and Bay of Plenty (+5.0%).

Auckland/Northland posted a modest 0.9% growth rate, hinting at relatively larger numbers being out of the city this year.

PAYMARK All Cards Data (Boxing Day 2016 versus Boxing Day 2015)

Value Underlying*
Region transactions $millions Annual % change
Auckland/Northland $63.8 0.7%
Waikato $11.2 0.8%
BOP $11.8 5.0%
Gisborne $1.4 -4.8%
Taranaki $2.9 7.3%
Hawke's Bay $4.0 -0.5%
Wanganui $1.3 -2.8%
Palmerston North $4.0 2.4%
Wairarapa $1.2 -0.4%
Wellington $13.3 4.8%
Nelson $3.2 6.0%
Marlborough $1.9 -5.8%
West Coast $1.0 -9.2%
Canterbury $15.8 3.4%
South Canterbury $2.3 -2.3%
Otago $9.5 5.7%
Southland $3.2 4.4%
New Zealand $152.7 1.9%
* Underlying spending excludes large clients moving to or from Paymark within last 12 months

Figure 1: Paymark All Cards data (Spending 26th December 2016 versus 26th December 2015)

By way of comparison, total spending for the day before Christmas Day was $247.1 million while the record trading day was Friday 23 December when $306.2 million was transacted through the Paymark network.

The Boxing Day sales follow a period of strong spending growth before Christmas Day. Total spending through Paymark in the 21 days ending 24 December was $4,449 million. Underlying spending increased 6.0%.

ENDS

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