Christchurch retail activity lifts again

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Christchurch retail activity has risen strongly for a second consecutive quarter, bucking national trends, according to latest figures.

Total retail activity in the recovering city increased 2.1 per cent in the September 2012 quarter, on the back of a 2.5 per cent jump in the previous quarter, Statistics New Zealand says.

It compares with a 0.8 per cent fall at the national level, with shoppers behind the Christchurch success.

Accommodation and food services are also up 1.6 per cent and 4.8 per cent respectively.

"Christchurch's sales growth fell behind the rest of the country after the quakes began," said industry and labour statistics manager Tehseen Islam.

"But strong rises in the past two quarters, coupled with this quarter's decrease in national retail figures, has helped to narrow that gap."

Since the June 2010 quarter, before the earthquakes began, Christchurch's total retail activity has risen 6.8 per cent, compared with the national increase of 8.0 per cent.

The Christchurch retail trade indicator is an experimental series released by Statistics NZ to provide information on the state of the Christchurch retail trade industry after the Canterbury earthquakes.