Christchurch Retail Trade Indicator: June 2015 quarter
Christchurch city retail and hospitality sales continue to grow, Statistics New Zealand said today.
Sales for the June 2015 quarter were $1.9 billion, a 2.9 percent increase compared with the same quarter in 2014. This follows a 4.8 percent increase in the March quarter compared with the same quarter in 2014.
After seasonal fluctuations are removed, Christchurch's retail and hospitality sales increased 0.5 percent in the June 2015 quarter, compared with an increase of 0.1 percent at the national level. (see Retail Trade Survey: June 2015 quarter).
"Hospitality sales led the growth in Christchurch this quarter," business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said. "However, while both retail and hospitality sales increased in the June quarter, the growth wasn't as strong as we've seen in recent quarters."
Looking at the longer-term picture, the trend for retail and hospitality sales in Christchurch has risen 28 percent since the June 2010 quarter (before the earthquakes began). This compares with a 22 percent rise at the national level.
The Christchurch retail trade indicator series measures activity in the retail and hospitality industries. It provides information on the state of these industries after the Canterbury earthquakes that began in September 2010.