Fuel price rises helps lift spending on cards  

The amount New Zealanders spent in the retail sector using their debit and credit cards rose 0.5% last month to a seasonally adjusted $3.8 billion, according to Statistics New Zealand.

The rise was driven by higher fuel prices which Statistics New Zealand says has been generally increasing since September 2009.

Meanwhile, spending on core retail, which excludes motor vehicle related industries, was flat at -0.1%.

The total value of all transactions, which includes non retail industries such as travel and health, was up 1.1% - the biggest rise in six months. This was helped along by a 5.1% rise in the value of non-retail transactions.

Statistics New Zealand its latest figures suggest that growth in the core retail industries has flattened in recent months, though total retail is experiencing its fastest growth rate in six months.

In the year to June 2009, New Zealanders used debit and credit cards for around 60% of their total retail spend.

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