Wairarapa is among the top three regions in New Zealand to show a lift in pre-Christmas spending.
Paymark electronic spending figures released yesterday show spending in Wairarapa so far this month is 5.4 per cent up on the same period last year.
Paymark chief executive Simon Tong said $30.1 million had been spent in the region this month to date, compared to $28.6 million up to December 20 last year.
He said Wairarapa was one of the top three performers over the period and had posted the same value difference as South Canterbury at 5.4 per cent. The frontrunner was Canterbury, which was up 6.4 per cent or $22.8 million year-on-year.
Nationally, there had been in December so far a 4.7 per cent year-on-year spending increase, Mr Tong said.
