2025.08.2423:43:14UTC+00New Zealand Retail Sales Above Forecasts in Q2

Retail sales in New Zealand experienced a 0.5% increase quarter-on-quarter for the three-month period ending in June 2025. This growth, while slightly below the 0.8% rise observed in the first quarter, surpassed market predictions of a 0.2% uptick. Accounting for price adjustments and seasonal variations, 8 out of the 15 retail sectors reported higher sales volumes compared to the March 2025 quarter. The most significant growth was observed in the electrical and electronic goods sector, which surged by 4.6%, followed by supermarkets and grocery stores with a 1.3% increase, and pharmaceutical retailing up by 1.2%. Conversely, the sectors of clothing, footwear, personal accessories, accommodation, and fuel retailing experienced the most pronounced declines. Regionally, the South Island saw a 0.2% increase in retail sales, whereas the North Island experienced a 0.3% decrease. Annually, total retail sales rose by 2.3% in Q2, indicating a significant acceleration from the 0.7% growth documented in Q1.