WELLINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's volume of retail sales rose by 0.5 percent in the June 2025 quarter compared to the March quarter, the statistics department Stats NZ reported Monday.
The growth was driven mainly by increases in electrical and electronic goods, supermarkets and groceries, pharmaceutical retailing, and department stores, said Stats NZ economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen.
Despite this overall growth, retail sales fell in most regions, with the South Island seeing a slight increase of 0.2 percent, while the North Island experienced a 0.3 percent decline, statistics show.
Over the longer term from June 2022 to June 2025, retail sales in the South Island have grown significantly faster than in the North Island, according to Feyen. ■