Source: Radio New Zealand
Consumer spending processed through all core retail merchants in Worldline NZ’s payments network during February were up 2.8 percent in the Auckland/Northland region. 123RF
Auckland has seen the biggest growth in consumer spending in two years, with modest growth holding steady elsewhere.
Consumer spending processed through all core retail merchants in Worldline NZ’s payments network during February reached $3.686 billion or 2.2 percent up on February 2025, including the comings and goings of merchants on its network.
The Auckland/Northland region was a standout with a 2.8 percent increase in spending over the year earlier – the biggest year-on-year growth the region had seen in a single month in nearly two years.
Worldline NZ chief sales officer Bruce Proffit said it was encouraging to see a positive consumer spending trend since the start of the year.
“While the annual growth rate is relatively low and spending did not increase across all sectors and regions, it’s still heartening to see that total spending is up at this point of the year, and, most notably, up in New Zealand’s largest region,” he said.
“Noticeably so far this year, the South Island pattern remains similar, although Wellington spending is still below year-ago levels. Waikato remains one of the fastest growth regions and its spending level surpassed that of Wellington – not by much, but for the third month in a row.”
Annual growth rates for core retail spending was highest in Palmerston North (+4.5 percent), Otago (+3.8 percent) and Waikato (+3.7 percent), while spending declines were highest percentage-wise in Wairarapa (-2.3 percent) and Gisborne (-1.7 percent).
Valentine’s Day hit by bad weather
Worldline data indicates consumer spending on flowers and jewellery spiked in the days before and including Valentine’s Day although overall spending was down on last year, with wet weather likely a factor in dampening romantic retail spirits across the nation.
Total spending through florist and watch/jewellery merchants in Worldline NZ’s payments network was down over the year earlier by more than 14 percent to $4.8m over the two days ending Saturday 14 February.
However, data also suggests Southland and Palmerston North were still willing to splash the cash to celebrate the most romantic day of the year.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
