Retail Sales Flat

in General by Jon C — October 14, 2010 at 12:50 pm | 0 comments

Retail sales remain flat.

Sales in retailing were down 0.6% ($25 million) in August after another flat month in July (down 0.1% or $6 million).

Statistics department figures out today show only two of the 20 core industries measured  moved up or down by more than $5 million.

Seasonally adjusted total retail sales were virtually unchanged in August 2010, down less than 0.1% ($2 million), following a fall of 0.5% ($27 million) in July.

But as reported here earlier, people did buy new cars or stock up on petrol before the GST change.

Sales in the motor vehicle and automotive fuel industries recorded the largest increases. However, these were offset by decreases in three-quarters of the 20 core industries,” business statistics manager Louise Holmes-Oliver said. Core industries exclude the four vehicle-related industries.

The main movements were:

• motor vehicle retailing, up 2.3% ($14 million)
• petrol, up 2.1% ($ 11 million)
• hardware retailing, down 5.8%($7 million).

Tags: retail. economy