Retail spending using electronic cards reached $4.5 billion in August 2015, up $181 million (4.2 percent) from August 2014, Statistics New Zealand said today.

When adjusted for seasonal effects, retail spending rose 0.5 percent in August 2015 compared with July 2015. This rise follows a 0.4 percent rise in July.

"Increased card spending for the core retail industries kept the overall retail sales values up this month," business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said. "In contrast, both the vehicle-related industries fell in August, with fuel having the largest fall, due to lower prices."

Core retail spending (which excludes the vehicle-related industries) rose 0.9 percent in August 2015, following a 0.6 percent rise in July. Durables (up 1.3 percent) had the largest increase of the four core industries.

The total value of electronic card spending, including the two non-retail industries (services and other non-retail), rose a modest 0.1 percent. This follows a 1.0 percent rise in July 2015.

Trends for the total, retail, and core retail series have generally been rising since these series began in October 2002.

Values are only available at the national level, and are not adjusted for price changes.