Credit card spending soars

New Zealanders are spending more than ever online, Visa International data shows.

The number of online Visa transactions in New Zealand last month rose to 354,932, up 58 per cent compared to the same time last year.

This outpaced Visa's global online sales volume growth of 42 per cent for the same period.

New Zealanders' online Visa transactions were worth $56.51 million in March, up from $31.51 million from the same time last year.

The average online transaction was worth $159, up from $141 the year before and ahead of the region's average value of $123.

Visa International general manager, Australia and New Zealand, Bruce Mansfield said data showed New Zealanders had embraced the internet as a global retail channel.

"The popularity of online shopping continues to grow as more retailers offer online sales, and consumers are attracted by the convenience and the ability to access specialised products not available in the local market."

Cross-border sales accounted for about one in six online Visa transactions.

New Zealand ranks third in the Asia-Pacific region's biggest online spenders by volume, trailing big spenders from Australia and Japan.

- NZPA