Hawke's Bay shoppers spend $79 million in December

CHRISTMAS CHEER: Shoppers in the Hastings Mall, Heretaunga St West, Hastings. PHOTO / DUNCAN BROWN

Christmas shoppers in Hawke's Bay continue to flash the plastic, spending more than $79.1 million in December with another four shopping days to go.

Latest figures from Paymark, which processes more than three-quarters of all credit and debit card transactions in New Zealand, show consumers spent $40.8m across the Paymark network last week - a 6.7 per cent rise on the corresponding week last year.

That takes the amount processed since December 4 to $79.1m, with a total of 1.75 million individual transactions recorded across the region since December 4.

Hastings City Business Association general manager Susan McDade said it looked like being a good end to the year for retailers.

"We are still tracking well and with the last-minute shoppers coming through this week we should have a solid end to the year for Hastings."

Napier City Business Inc manager Zoe Barnes said some retailers in the city were looking at big increases in takings, compared with last Christmas.

"Judging by the crowds in town over the last few weeks I would say that Napier CBD is tracking towards a very healthy Christmas period. Some retailers are reporting an increase of 10 per cent on last year already, which has been fantastic.

"It seems shoppers know what they are after on their shopping excursions and are coming ready to buy. Gift vouchers also seem to be a popular gift choice and with four shopping days left until Christmas we look forward to this trend continuing."

Hawke's Bay's 6.7 per cent rise in spending for the past week, was slightly above the national amount, which was 5.8 per cent up on the same time last year.

"We are now in spend mode," a Paymark spokesman said.

"This week will be the busiest week of the year for many Paymark merchants. For
most, the busiest seven days of the year will end either Friday or Saturday.

"Last year, spending in the seven days ending Christmas Eve was 53 per cent above the average seven-day spend during the earlier months of January to October across the Paymark network [measured on an underlying basis]. Spending for many merchants will be more than twice the weekly average."