Christmas spending hits new heights in Bay of Plenty

PHOTO/FILE

Bay of Plenty shopping centres have "gone crazy" as people cram in last-minute Christmas shopping with latest figures showing retail spending growth was the second highest in the country last week.

Paymark's latest report showed the national tally through its outlets for the first 21 days of December was up 7 per cent on last year, with spending growth accelerating to reach 8.7 per cent in the period from December 15 to 21.

Bay of Plenty retail spending was up 12.6 per cent compared with the corresponding week in 2015, and up 10.7 per cent for the 21-day period.

During the week from December 15 to 21, the Bay of Plenty was just behind Otago, which was up 12.7 per cent, and ahead of Hawke's Bay, which was up 12.4 per cent for the week.

Total Bay of Plenty spending for the week was $105.4 million, bringing its three-week total to $280m.

Paymark said the strength in the three regional centres suggested an early shift to the holiday resorts.

Pukeroa Oruawhata general manager Peter Faulkner said Rotorua Central had been "extremely busy", which he thought was a reflection of both consumer confidence and solid marketing by retailers.

Mr Faulkner said it had been busier than this time last year, but that was just from his observations, rather than based on firm evidence.

He said, based on previous years, the Boxing Day sales would continue the activity being seen now.

McLeods Booksellers' Jemma Pirrie said the central city store's Christmas sales were probably about the same as last year overall, but there had been a definite increase in children's book sales.

"This Christmas we've had heaps of online orders."

She said it was difficult to say how busy today and tomorrow would be.

"We had our busiest day of the week so far on Monday, but I guess we will see."

She said they usually found Christmas Eve was quite quiet because people were relaxing.

Representatives of major retailers in Tauranga confirmed they were seeing very strong growth, with Papamoa Plaza centre manager David Hill saying some of its tenants were hitting 20 per cent growth on last year.

"It's just gone crazy," he said, adding that in his experience of 30 years in retail, the busiest days of the year were the 24th and the 26th.

Bayfair Shopping Centre manager Steve Ellingford said traffic had been picking up over the past few days.

"We're expecting a strong run into Christmas, with late night trading, and Kmart opening 24/7. I think people will spend right up until Christmas - and they'll be straight back out and into the Boxing Day sales. It just does not end."