Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.8 per cent, or $46 million, in November, with higher vehicle fuel sales a key element in the increase from October's figures.
Publishing the data today, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said the increase followed two months of flat results.
Core retail sales, which exclude the four vehicle-related industries, were also up a seasonally adjusted 0.8 per cent, or $34m.
The rises beat expectations, with the median forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists being a 0.5 per cent rise in overall retail sales and a 0.2 per cent rise in core retail.
ASB Bank economist Nick Tuffley said the result was "slightly above market and ASB expectations".
Leaving aside the fuel price rises, there were areas of strength pointing to a recovery in household demand, with gains in department stores and clothing, he said.
Spending in bars and clubs continued to increase, likely reflecting the large number of Australian tourists over late 2009.
"Although the retail sales figures were a touch stronger than expected, they don't alter our view that the pick-up in spending growth will remain gradual," said Tuffley.
"November's figures follow two months of very weak growth, and retail figures are quite volatile from month to month."
The trend growth rate had remained steady for a number of months and was consistent with the overall economy gradually improving.
"For the Reserve Bank the continued pattern of moderate consumer spending growth is consistent with its expectation the OCR won't rise until mid-year," said Tuffley.
- NZPA / NZ HERALD STAFF
