Hefty consumer spend launches year

CHING CHING: It's a bumper start to the year for retailers.PHOTO/FILE

Businesses in the Wairarapa are reaping the rewards of a bumper start to the year.

According to the latest Paymark statistics, Wairarapa residents spent $41.9 million in January 2015 - a 6.3 per cent increase on January 2014.

A 10.1 per cent increase was also recorded in the number of transactions made through the network, totalling almost one million.

Owner of Lansdowne Sammies Lisa Kerr said January had been a busy month at the cafe though overall business was not up on last year.

"January is normally really busy for us anyway but [compared to January last year] we didn't notice a huge change," she said. "It was roughly the same, maybe a little bit up but pretty similar."

Nationwide, New Zealanders spent an extra $235 million more this January than in January 2014 - a 5.5 per cent increase.

The Paymark data showed $4.5 billion changed hands by Eftpos in the first month of 2015.

There was also a 9.7 per cent increase in the number of transactions recorded, totalling 94.54 million.

Paymark head of customer relations Mark Spicer said the growth was expected to continue throughout the year.

"Even with low fuel prices pulling the growth rate down, it's a good, solid start to the year," he said.

"The increase in the value and volume of transactions in January are good indicators that we can expect continued growth during 2015."

The biggest spending day was Friday, January 30, with $174.3 million processed through the Paymark network - up 3.4 per cent on the same Friday in 2014.

Meanwhile, mixed spending patterns were recorded on the two major anniversary weekends in Wellington and Auckland.

A decrease in spending of -0.4 per cent was recorded on Wellington Anniversary weekend, compared to the same time in 2014, while the opposite was true of Auckland Anniversary weekend.

Spending in Auckland and Northland totalled $144 million - up 6.9 per cent on the same three days last year.

Mr Spicer said many Kiwis seemed to make the most of the additional day off.

"A jump in spending on accommodation, food and beverages through the Paymark network during this period was evidence that the long sunny weekend was enjoyed by many." NZME.