Highest-ever retail sales figures for clothing have
coincided with an especially cold, wet and early winter,
Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) says.
Clothing and softgoods retail sales figures for May increased
12.6%, or $25 million, on the previous month -- the largest
monthly increase since the series began in May 1995, the SNZ
retail trade survey showed.
"This unprecedented increase coincided with what has been
described as an early start to winter. Compared with typical
May months, most of the country has experienced above-average
rainfall and well below-average temperatures," government
statistician Geoff Bascand said.
Total retail sales figures for May increased 0.8%, or by $41
million, on those of April, with supermarket and grocery
stores also gaining, up 2.2% or by $27m on figures for April.
The increases in the two core industries offset a fall in
vehicle-related industries, with fuel retailers reporting a
drop in sales of 2.7%, or $14m, and motor vehicle retailers
selling $10m less, or 1.4%, worth of automobiles.
Mr Bascand said sales by region for the month were mixed,
slightly up in the South Island, while slightly down in the
North.
"The trend in total sales has been in general decline since
January 2008, but has currently flattened," he said.
