Total retail spend in New Zealand for the 28 days ending 28 October 2015 was $3.3 billion. This represents an increase of
2.7% compared to the same period last year, and an increase of 4.2% when compared to the previous month.
Home & Building Supplies continues to show the biggest improvements with a 17.2% increase since last month. Clothing
& Footwear had an impressive month on month increase of 11.4% and while this category continued to show declines in
year on year figures – this has slowed to 0.8% (from 3.1% in the September report). Furniture / Appliances / Electronics
also saw their biggest monthly increase in over 6 months of 8.1% and an 8.2% year on year increase. Other categories
showing increases in year on year figures include Travel & Accommodation and Health Goods & Services of 7.8% and
8.2% respectively.
Fuel / Service Stations (-8.0%) and Recreation & Entertainment (-7.3%) showed larger than usual year on year declines
however maintained a moderate month on month increase of 1.8% and 4.5% respectively.
QUARTERLY SUMMARY
OCTOBER 2015
The total quarterly retail spend for the 91 days ending 28 October 2015 was $10.8 billion, continuing the trend of small
increases when compared to the same period last year (+3.1%), and showing the first quarterly increase since the
quarterly figures reported in February of 1.5%. Of the six categories that showed increases since last quarter, five also
showed increases in year on year figures. Home & Building supplies (+15.6%) led the increase since last quarter
followed by Liquor Stores (+4.8%), Supermarkets / Food Retailers (+3.5%), Café / Restaurants / Bars (+2.8%), Furniture
/ Appliances / Electronics (+1.8%). While the Recreation & Entertainment category showed a minor increase of 0.1% for
the quarter, it also showed a decrease in the year on year figures of 3.3%.
Despite a strong month on month performance, Clothing & Footwear saw a decline when compared to last quarter of
7.8% followed by Travel & Accommodation at -3.7% and Department Stores at -3.2%. Another three categories saw
declines of below 2% this quarter; Books & Stationary (-1.7%), Health Goods & Services (-1.3%) and Fuel / Service
Stations (-0.9%).
Over-all it has been a good quarter for New Zealand, the warmer weather and result of the Rugby World Cup may be
contributing to the increase.
SELECTED REGIONS OF INTEREST
MONTHLY TRENDS - NORTHLAND
Over-all the Northland region was one of the better performing regions when compared to last month and the same
period last year. The biggest increases could be seen in Home & Building Supplies (+15.7%), Clothing & Footwear
(+11.1%) and Liquor Stores (+9.8%). These increases are relatively consistent with how other regions have performed
in the same categories. The largest decrease was in the Travel & Accommodation category of 9.3%, Books & Stationary
Stores of 8.9% and Furniture / Appliances / Electronics of 8.3%.
MONTHLY TRENDS - WELLINGTON
Wellington had a strong month with 10 out of 12 categories showing an increase since last month, and seven of the 10
also showing increases year on year. Home & Building Supplies leads the monthly increases with the third largest
increase of all regions at 24.4%. The Clothing & Footwear and Recreation & Entertainment categories saw increases of
7.0% and 6.5% respectively, with the remaining seven categories showing increases of between 1.9% to 4.3%. The two
categories showing decreases were Books & Stationary Stores (-5.0%) and Health Goods & Services (-1.0%).
MONTHLY TRENDS - SOUTHLAND
Southland showed the smallest increase, and was amongst the three regions showing notable year on year decreases.
Of the seven categories that showed increases the largest could be seen in Clothing & Footwear (12.4%) followed by
Travel & Accommodation (5.6%), Home & Building Supplies (5.1%) and Liquor Stores (4.9%). Three categories showed
declines since last month with the largest being Furniture / Appliances / Electronics (-12.9%). Southland was the only
region to show a decline in the Department Store category of 2.7%
Total retail spend is up for October year on year (+2.7%)
Home & Building Supplies gained the most up 17.2%
Clothing & Footwear increased by a significant 11.4%
Furniture / Appliances / Electronics gained 8.1%, their
largest month on month gain in six months
REGIONS UP THIS MONTH 9
CATEGORIES UP THIS MONTH 16
Health Goods & Services saw a decline of 1.8%
Books & Stationary Stores declined in October by 3.9%
Southland Region showed the smallest gain at 1.1%,
however the region saw a year on year decline of 2.8%
REGIONS UP THIS MONTH 3
CATEGORIES UP THIS MONTH 0
ONLINE RETAIL MARKET SUMMARY
OCTOBER 2015
Total online spend for the 28 days ending 28 October 2015 is $219 million which represents a decrease vs the same
period last year of 5.54%. Four categories saw decreases and represented 27.6% of all online spend. The losses were
led by Recreation & Entertainment (-26.1%), Books & Stationary (-23.8%), Supermarkets / Food Retailers (-21.0%) and
to a lesser extent Furniture / Appliance / Electronics with a year on year decline of 4.3%.
Online spend remains dominated by the Travel & Accommodation category which accounts for 60.4% of all online
spend. This category saw a decrease from last month of 7.9% however an overall positive increase of 7.8% when
compared to this time last year. While Liquor Stores represent the smallest proportion of online spend (0.3%) this
category continues its trend of year on year increase with a gain of 50.3%. Home & Building Supplies and Recreation &
Entertainment saw increases of 26.0% and 26.1% respectively and represent 15.6% of all online spend.
ONLINE: NZ VS OFF SHORE
NZ merchants accounted for 55.9% of online spend representing a decrease of 1.5% on a year on year comparison.
New Zealand merchants saw decreases in six of the ten categories since last month, with Recreation & Entertainment
showing the most significant decrease of -18.1%, Travel & Accommodation of -9.5% and Supermarket / Food Retailers
at -6.6%. NZ merchants are well represented with share of spend in these categories at 46.9%, 64.0% and 79.9%
respectively. Other categories where New Zealand merchants are well represented include Home & Building Supplies
(77.7%) and Department Stores (88.8%), both seeing increases on last month of 21% and 19.7% respectively.
Of the three categories where off shore merchants are significantly represented, Clothing & Footwear and Furniture /
Appliances / Electronics saw increases since last month of 8.3% and 0.1% respectively, and Health Goods & Services
saw a decline of 4%. The off shore category saw an over-all decrease of 3.9% when comparing year on year figures.
showing the most significant decrease of -18.1%, Travel & Accommodation of -9.5% and Supermarket / Food Retailers
at -6.6%. NZ merchants are well represented with share of spend in these categories at 46.9%, 64.0% and 79.9%
respectively. Other categories where New Zealand merchants are well represented include Home & Building Supplies
(77.7%) and Department Stores (88.8%), both seeing increases on last month of 21% and 19.7% respectively.
Of the three categories where off shore merchants are significantly represented, Clothing & Footwear and Furniture /
Appliances / Electronics saw increases since last month of 8.3% and 0.1% respectively, and Health Goods & Services
saw a decline of 4%. The off shore category saw an over-all decrease of 3.9% when comparing year on year figures.
