New Zealand - Jualan Runcit (Bulanan)

The volume of total retail sales in New Zealand rose a modest 0.2 percent in the second quarter of 2019, after a 0.7 percent advance in the previous period and compared to market expectations of a 0.1 percent gain. Electrical and electronic goods had the largest increase (5 percent vs 0.3 percent), followed by recreational goods (6.2 percent vs 3.2 percent). In contrast, sales at supermarket and grocery stores fell 0.9 percent (vs 0.4 percent in Q1) and those at department stores declined 2.1 percent (vs 4.3 percent in Q1).

Retail sales in New Zealand increased 0.7 percent quarter-on-quarter in the three months to March 2019, slowing from a 1.7 percent gain in the previous period but above market expectations of a 0.6 percent rise. Sales advanced at a softer pace for supermarket & grocery (0.7 percent vs 1.8 percent in Q4 2018); clothing, footwear, & accessories (0.9 percent vs 2.9 percent); and fuel (0.2 percent vs 0.9 percent). Also, sales dropped for pharmaceutical and other store-based (-5.7 percent vs 8.3 percent); accommodation (-4.7 percent vs 0.4 percent); and food & beverage services (-0.3 percent vs 4.4 percent). Year-on-year, retail sales went up 3.3 percent in the first quarter of 2019, after rising 3.5 percent in the prior period.

Retail sales in New Zealand increased 1.7 percent quarter-on-quarter in the three months to December 2018, following an upwardly revised 0.3 percent gain in the previous period and above market expectations of a 0.5 percent rise. It was the biggest gain in retail trade since the first quarter of 2017, as sales rebounded for pharmaceutical & other store-based retailing (8.2 percent vs -3.5 percent in Q3); food & beverage services (4.2 percent vs -2.0 percent); specialised food (1.7 percent vs -1.8 percent); and motor vehicles & parts (0.1 percent vs -1.9 percent). Also, sales advanced further for non-store & commission-based retailing (4.1 percent vs 1.8 percent); clothing, footwear, & accessories (4.1 percent vs 2.2 percent); electrical & electronic goods (4.6 percent vs 3.6 percent); accommodation (1.9 percent vs 1.8 percent) and fuel (1 percent vs 0.7 percent). Year-on-year, retail sales went up 3.5 percent in the last quarter of 2018, after rising 2.7 percent in the prior period.