Card spending driven higher by fuel, Black Friday

Higher fuel prices and as Black Friday holiday bargains boosted retail spending.

New Zealand retail spending on electronic cards rose in November, boosted by higher fuel prices and as the US Thanksgiving 'Black Friday' holiday bargains gain international traction.

Seasonally adjusted total retail spending on credit and debit cards - including vehicle-related spending - increased 1.2 per cent in November, accelerating from a revised 0.5 per cent a month earlier, Statistics New Zealand said in a statement.

Total spending, including non-retail industries, rose 1.4 per cent on the month after rising 0.7 per cent in October.

Fuel prices reached a three-year high in November and drivers spent 5 per cent more at the pump on the year in November, as higher petrol prices saw retail card spending on fuel rise by $28 million to $591m, Stats NZ said.

"Good weather and Black Friday bargains also helped bolster card spending in November," retail manager Sue Chapman said.

Black Friday, an American retail event following Thanksgiving, has become more common in New Zealand in recent years.

Retailers offer specials on the Friday following Thanksgiving, and many sales extend throughout the weekend.

Spending rose in all six industries for the first time since January 2017.

The largest movement was in the fuel industry followed by durables, which rose 1.2 per cent or $14m.

Hospitality spending lifted 1.2 per cent or $12m while apparel spending rose $8.1m or 2.7 per cent and expenditure on consumables rose 0.5 per cent or $10m.

Motor vehicle spending lifted 1 per cent or $1.7m.

Today's figures show actual total retail spending climbed 4.3 per cent to $5.42 billion in November from the same month a year earlier.

Card-holders across all industries made 147 million transactions in November versus 143 million in October.

The average value lifted to $50 from $48 in October.