Hastings retailers appear to have cashed in on what Statistic NZ has called a "boom quarter" for consumer spending in the first three months of the year.
The latest retail trade statistics show the district's shoppers spent 8 per cent more between January and March than in the same periodlast year, continuing a consistent upward trend since October 2013. Spending was also up in Napier although the city's 2 per cent increase fell below the overall nation rise for the quarter of 5.1 per cent.
The Hastings City Business Association said the latest figures showed the retail sector was moving in the right direction and that consumers were spending money with more confidence.
"Despite the struggles that most of the retail sector has endured in recent years, our Hastings CBD retailers seem to be pulling out all the stops to stay on top, and the figures show that it is paying off," said the association's general manager, Susan McDade.
"Another rise in the next quarter will really indicate that the tides are turning, and our CBD can gain more confidence in moving forward."
The association believed competition from online stores and overseas websites continued to be a concern for city retailers, but was not impacting as significantly as previously feared.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said the statistics were good news, although he remained concerned that the Hastings CBD was too spread out, which made trading more difficult for retailers.
Hastings District Council is holding a public forum next month where experts will outline their thoughts on what Hastings can do to revive its CBD in the face of changing shopping patterns and global trends, including the growth of online shopping.
