Our take on the latest Retail trade survey (Tue 24 Aug 2021)
Retail sales volumes up 3.3% (sa) in June quarter
Accommodation spending up 11% (sa)
Total stocks up 1.8% (sa) in June quarter
The key numbers...
- Retail spending volumes grew 3.3% in the June quarter 2021 (seasonally adjusted). Bearing in mind last year’s lockdown, retail spending volume was up 33%pa from the June quarter in 2020.
- By store-type, the big increases in retail volumes were recorded by accommodation (up 11% sa), motor vehicles and parts (up 6.0% sa), food and beverage services (up 5.6% sa), apparel (up 5.5% sa), and homeware (up 4.8% as).
- The total stock of retail goods increased 1.8% (sa) in the June quarter and now sits 4.4% higher than a year ago.
Seasonally adjusted retail sales
$m (Sept 2010 prices)
...and our reaction
- The June quarter was strong for retail spending and broad across all sectors, highlighting the strength of the economy before going into Lockdown Level 4 for a second time. Retail spending volumes have increased 6.1% over the first half of 2021.
- Strong retail spending in industries like accommodation and food services highlights that domestic tourism is doing astonishingly well at making up for the hole in international tourism. Spending volumes for food and beverage services have reached a new all-time high, while accommodation volumes have recovered to their pre-pandemic level recorded in December 2019.
- This next round of lockdowns will pump money into supermarkets while all other sectors suffer. However, as in 2020, a post-lockdown surge in spending is expected as the wage subsidy and inability to spend at Alert Level 4 temporarily boost household savings.
Latest updates
Premium
Retail trade survey
Anxious consumers pull back on discretionary spending
Fri 22 May 2026
Quarterly
1.0% Core retail sales volumes in the March 2026 quarter (seas. adj.)8 of 13 core industries recorded quarterly rises (seas. adj.)
-4.8% Clothing, footwear in the March 2026 quarter (seas. adj.)Premium
Retail trade survey
Retail spending continues to strengthen
Mon 23 Feb 2026
Quarterly
1.5% Core retail sales volumes in December (seas. adj.)11 of 13 core industries recorded quarterly rises (seas. adj.)South Island continues to lead the recoveryRetail trade survey
Retail spending recovery gaining traction
Thu 27 Nov 2025
Quarterly
Core retail sales volumes up 1.2% in September (seas. adj.)
Seven of 13 core industries saw quarterly rises (seas. adj.)North Island growth starting to follow the South’s leadRetail trade survey
Retail spending continues to recover, slowly
Mon 25 Aug 2025
Quarterly
Core retail sales volumes up 0.5% in June (seas. adj.)Eight of 13 core industries saw quarterly rises (seas. adj.)Spending growth across country, led by the south