Bay shoppers are spending up larger

Hawke's Bay shoppers increased spending in May by 6.4 per cent, compared with the same period last year.

Figures from Paymark, which records 75 per cent of electronic transactions, show the total spend was $109.1 million, compared with $102.5 million. It was the third-highest increase in the country, behind Canterbury on 8.1 per cent and Marlborough on 9.2 per cent but ahead of the national increase of 5.1 per cent.

On Queen's Birthday weekend the increase was 7.2 per cent, again behind Canterbury and Marlborough but ahead of the national increase of 4 per cent.

"As many Kiwis look to take advantage of the long weekend, spending growth tends to spread from a number of the main centres to some of the more typical holiday destinations," Paymark head of sales and marketing Paul Whiston said.

"This is perhaps an indication that Kiwis were enjoying their last break before the colder months set in."

Nationwide during May, Paymark reported the number of card transactions was up 5.8 per cent on a year ago, with credit card usage (+10.4 per cent) increasing at a faster rate than debit card usage (+4.5 per cent).

Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO Wayne Walford said people were becoming more optimistic. "People are starting to treat themselves a bit more because there's a bit more in the budget. The weather over Queen's Birthday weekend was just fantastic and it gave people the chance to explore what Hawke's Bay has to offer."

Napier Inner City marketing manager Meg Rodel said people were more optimistic.

And shopping was a major attraction for visitors from bigger cities.

"We've still got our specialty stores intermingled with the national chains," she said.

"People don't have to visit a mall for the chains and then seek out specialty stores.

"They can do all their shopping in half a day.

"It is the specialty stores that give a city's shopping precinct its uniqueness."