Xinhua, Wellington :
New Zealanders spent marginally less on the credit and debit cards last month, despite a rise in fuel spending, the government statistics agency said Friday.
Retail spending using electronic cards hit was 4.8 billion NZ dollars (3.32 billion U.S. dollars) in February, up 2.6 percent year on year, but down 0.6 percent from January, according to Statistics New Zealand.
The decrease follows a strong 2.7-percent increase in January, the largest monthly percentage increase since January 2006.
“The fall in total card spending in February was driven by a lull in furniture, electronics, and department store purchases,” business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said in a statement.
Spending fell in four of the six retail industries in February.
The largest fall came from the durables industry (furniture, hardware, electronics, recreational goods, department stores, and pharmaceutical), which was down 26 million NZ dollars (17.97 million U.S. dollars), or 2.1 percent.
This decrease followed a strong 3.2-percent rise in spending on durables in January.
The largest increase in February 2017 was from the fuel industry, up 18 million NZ dollars (12.43 million U.S. dollars), or 2.8 percent.
Core retail spending, which excludes the vehicle-related industries, fell 0.7 percent in February, after a 2.7-percent rise in January.
New Zealanders spent marginally less on the credit and debit cards last month, despite a rise in fuel spending, the government statistics agency said Friday.
Retail spending using electronic cards hit was 4.8 billion NZ dollars (3.32 billion U.S. dollars) in February, up 2.6 percent year on year, but down 0.6 percent from January, according to Statistics New Zealand.
The decrease follows a strong 2.7-percent increase in January, the largest monthly percentage increase since January 2006.
“The fall in total card spending in February was driven by a lull in furniture, electronics, and department store purchases,” business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said in a statement.
Spending fell in four of the six retail industries in February.
The largest fall came from the durables industry (furniture, hardware, electronics, recreational goods, department stores, and pharmaceutical), which was down 26 million NZ dollars (17.97 million U.S. dollars), or 2.1 percent.
This decrease followed a strong 3.2-percent rise in spending on durables in January.
The largest increase in February 2017 was from the fuel industry, up 18 million NZ dollars (12.43 million U.S. dollars), or 2.8 percent.
Core retail spending, which excludes the vehicle-related industries, fell 0.7 percent in February, after a 2.7-percent rise in January.
