The decline in sales is across the board in the retail sector. Photo / APN
Retail spending charged to credit, debit and charge cards fell 0.6 per cent last month, seasonally adjusted, and by 0.9 per cent when petrol stations and car yards are excluded.
But that followed a very strong 2.7 per cent jump in August.
Within the core retail sector, the decline in
sales was across the board, ranging from 0.3 per cent for durables, 0.6 per cent for consumables and hospitality, and 0.9 per cent for apparel.
Fuel sales, by contrast, rose 0.2 per cent, less that the 0.6 per cent increase in petrol prices.
ASB economist Christina Leung said while spending on durables fell last month it was still 2.8 per cent higher than a year ago.