More than $22.5 million was spent through the Paymark network in Otago on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day as shoppers grabbed last-minute stocking-stuffers and chased post-Christmas bargains.
The largest day on record for Paymark was Christmas Eve, when $263.5 million was spent nationally.
On Boxing Day, $8.1 million was spent in Otago, up 7.7% from last year, and on Christmas Eve $14.5 million was spent, up 15.9% on last year.
Otago Chamber of Commerce retail committee chairman Alan Preston said the result was ''huge'' for Otago retailers.
''I think that's a great thing,'' he said.
''It's great to see that people feel that the world is right enough that they can go out and do things and enjoy themselves.''
Paymark's figures showed a 22% increase in furniture and flooring sales on Boxing Day nationally and the story was echoed in Dunedin.
John's Furniture Warehouse sales manager Ian Cameron said the store was ''busy all day'' and experienced approximately a 20% increase in sales from the previous year.
''We very seldom have people queuing,'' he said.
''But we had people queuing. It started straight away. We had people waiting at the door.''
The rush had kept him so busy he ''had lunch about five past four, which is when we shut''.
''The poor storeman was run off his feet,'' he said.
Mr Preston said the numbers provided relief for Otago's retailers, who ''could do with a little bit more through the till''.
''The town feels a little more vibrant at times and people are feeling more confident.
''There seems to be a lot of positivity around.''
He expected the trend to continue into the new year.
Paymark head of customer relations Mark Spicer said Christmas Eve was Paymark's biggest day on record and was up by an unprecedented 10.5% on 2013.
''Christmas Eve this year smashed all our records,'' he said.
''Not only did we see the highest-ever spending value through the network, we also saw the highest number of transactions, at 4.8 million.
''During our busiest hour on Christmas Eve, traditionally noon to 1pm, another record was broken when the number of transactions processed per second peaked at 156. This compares with 148 transactions per second in 2013.''
The South Island led the spending spree on Christmas Eve, as Otago, Canterbury and Nelson recorded double-digit annual growth. Otago and Canterbury were strong on Boxing Day also.
Christmas Eve saw shoppers buying clothing, apparel and jewellery, up 8.9% on last year. Department stores were also up by 6.3%.
However, some of the largest gains were in the hospitality sector, which recorded 26.7% growth on Christmas Eve.
