Kiwis spend big on food and clothes in July

August 10, 2021
Lifestyle shopping concept, Young happy asian woman with paper bag and coat in shopping mall, vintage style

Kiwis are spending more on food and clothing using their credit and debit cards, according to new data from Stats NZ. 

Seasonally-adjusted figures found that the total spending through electronic cards was $8.52 billion in July. This is a $77 million or 0.9 per cent increase from July last year.

Retail purchases account for almost three-quarters of the $8.52 billion figure. Retail spending includes spending on consumables such as groceries and liquor, apparel, and durable goods like appliances, electronics, cars and furnishings. 

Meanwhile, card spending on clothing and accessories had the largest percentage change in all categories of spending from June to July, with a 3.6 per cent increase. 

Card spending on all categories of goods was up, apart from services which saw a $2 million or 0.5 per cent drop from June. 

Stats NZ business performance manager Ricky Ho said the increase in spending comes off the back of a drop last month. 

In actual terms, card spending on apparel was up $3 million, or 0.8 per cent, from the same time last year, Ho said. 

Card spending on fuel in July was also up 0.9 per cent from June. 

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