Eftpos network provider Paymark say businesses in the Canterbury region are trading almost one-third less than the same time last year in the wake of the earthquake that shook the region early on Saturday morning.
Total spending across the Paymark network in Canterbury on the weekend was down 32% - an $8.1 million year-on-year deficit.
All retail sectors were badly affected during weekend trading, with Saturday sales down 43% and Sunday sales down 18% on last year.
Amongst some of the hardest hit over the weekend were stores that would normally be experiencing an increase in sales due to Father's Day, including gift stores down 81%.
Camera and photo shops were down 79% and electronics stores down 77% on the previous year.
Paymark CEO Simon Tong said the company is working closely with all relevant parties to provide the resources and support necessary to help retailers get back on their feet as quickly as possible.
"Eftpos is a crucial part of everyday business. We've been working closely with banks, telecommunications companies and our partners to ensure that our network continues to operate smoothly for these retailers," Tong said.
The weekend's trading deficit comes on the back of a tough month for Canterbury, with year-on-year statistics showing the region was down 0.6% for the month of August.
Difficult winter trading was also felt by much of the country with spending outside of petrol stations and supermarkets down by 0.4% on August 2009, and annual growth of only 0.2% over the last four months, an experience reminiscent of the tough November - February period of 2008/9.
However, some regions continue to experience growth despite the winter blues, with the West Coast up 5.1% and Palmerston North up 4.7%.
