With only four shopping days to go before Christmas, parking spaces are still available at the malls and shoppers say they are spending less.

It's not all about truffle oil and pomegranate molasses, say the owners of Nosh.

The economists at Westpac have spotted a clear downward trend in expenditure on gifts.

The Government's shake up of the electricity sector could be the last chance the competitive pricing model has, says Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin.

Transactions using electronic cards rose 0.7 per cent for retail industries in November from a month earlier, mainly due to a rise in vehicle fuel sales.

Shares in KFC, Starbucks and Pizza Hut operator Restaurant Brands closed at a seven-year high.

Clothing and nursery product retailer Postie Plus Group lifted first quarter sales 15 per cent from a year earlier.