WELLINGTON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand electronic card spending fell in April, led by declines across retail categories amid softer consumer activity, official data showed on Tuesday.
Seasonally adjusted retail spending dropped 1.3 percent in April from March, or 89 million NZ dollars (about 52.12 million U.S. dollars), while core retail spending also declined 1.3 percent, according to Stats NZ.
All major retail spending categories recorded decreases. Consumables led the fall, down 60 million NZ dollars, or 2.1 percent, followed by hospitality at 1.3 percent and durables at 1.1 percent, said the statistics department.
Fuel spending fell 11 million NZ dollars, or 2 percent, while motor vehicle spending dropped 4.1 percent, it said, adding that apparel spending declined 1.3 percent.
Outside retail, non-retail industries excluding services fell 94 million NZ dollars, or 4 percent, including medical and other health care, travel and tour arrangement, and postal and courier delivery, while services spending decreased 12 million NZ dollars, or 3 percent, statistics showed.
Overall electronic card spending across all industries declined 160 million NZ dollars, or 1.6 percent, Stats NZ said.
In actual terms, cardholders made 168 million transactions across all industries in April, with an average value of 55 NZ dollars and total spending of 9.2 billion NZ dollars, it said.
The data, based on aggregated electronic card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants, are widely used as an indicator of consumer spending and broader economic activity, according to Stats NZ. ■
