Deck the halls with eftpos receipts

New Zealanders have given their cash cards a thorough workout in the last few shopping days before Christmas.

Eftpos firm Paymark, whose network accounts for about 80 per cent of all electronic transactions, says its figures show tills have been ringing with seasonal cheer this week.

Total eftpos transactions on the Paymark network were up 9 per cent for Monday to Wednesday, compared with the same time last year.

The firm processed more than six million electronic transactions, totalling over $387 million.

Figures for last week were up 4 per cent, with 13.6 million transactions worth more than $770 million.

Paymark spokesman Darryl Roots said because people tended to use eftpos for even small purchases, transactions recorded on its network reflected general retail trends.

He expected that last-minute shoppers would make today even busier.

"Momentum should then build again on Boxing Day with the now traditional post-Christmas sales," Roots said.

Retailers such as The Warehouse and Briscoes are pinning their hopes on a buoyant Christmas to turn round disappointing recent sales.

Last month, The Warehouse reported that same-store sales at its New Zealand "red sheds" fell 2.6 per cent in the October quarter compared with the period last year.

A Warehouse spokesman could not comment on how Christmas sales have been going.

Briscoe Group, comprising Briscoes Homewares and Rebel Sport, reported a 2.67 per cent fall in third-quarter sales.

- NZPA