Christmas shoppers in Whangarei's Cameron Street Mall on December 23 which was a nationwide record trading day for spending in the lead-up to Christmas. Photo / John Stone
Christmas shoppers in Whangarei's Cameron Street Mall on December 23 which was a nationwide record trading day for spending in the lead-up to Christmas. Photo / John Stone
The Auckland/Northland region recorded an increase of 0.9 per cent in Boxing Day retail spending this year compared with the same day last year, according to the country's largest eftpos transaction provider Paymark. Transactions in the region totalled $63.8 million.
Spending through Paymark nationwide totalled $152.7 million on Boxing Day.While a new high for the day, this marks only a modest 1.9 per cent increase in underlying spending on Boxing Day 2015.
Wellington experienced the fastest growth of the major cities at 4.8 per cent.
However growth was strongest amongst regional centres in Taranaki (+7.3 per cent), Nelson (+6.0 per cent), Otago (+5.7 per cent) and Bay of Plenty (+5 per cent).
By way of comparison, total spending for the day before Christmas Day was $247.1 million while the record trading day was Friday December 23 when $306.2 million was transacted through the Paymark network.
The Boxing Day sales follow a period of strong spending growth before Christmas Day. Total spending through Paymark in the 21 days ending December 24 was $4.4 billion.
Underlying spending increased 6 per cent.
Spending in some centres, such as Gisborne, Whanganui and Hawke's Bay, went backwards on last year.
