Hawke's Bay has again topped the country for increased retail spending going into Christmas according to Paymark, which processes 75 per cent of electronic transactions.
The region's spend of $74.2 million for the first 14 days of December was 10.4 per cent greater than for the same period in 2015.
West Coast came in a close second with a 10.2 per cent increase and Bay of Plenty third with 9.5 per cent.
Spending growth was lowest in Gisborne and for Marlborough due to exceptional circumstances. Paymark includes quake-struck Kaikoura in its figures and Gisborne experienced a prolonged power cut after a fatal plane crash into a pylon.
The national increase was 6.1 per cent.