![GOLOCAL](https://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/infographics/4010/GoLocal_OL.jpg)
Despite six days of March spent in lockdown, consumers spent $47.3 million in Whanganui during the month.
The result reflects strong trading up until the move into Covid-19 alert level 4 as well as increased numbers in food retailing throughout the lockdown, Whanganui & Partners chief executive Mark Ward said.
It was a 2.6 per cent increase on March 2019 for Whanganui, with New Zealand as a whole experiencing a 5.6 per cent drop in consumer spend over March this year.
![Whanganui & Partners chief executive Mark Ward says supporting local is crucial going forward. Photo / Lewis Gardner](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/G6ASCFYFS3GS5UCLWBVQMVCLIQ.jpg?auth=440a03d058933d1e9e3cb56b9e9f4936c6ba058cfffc6f9dbecfc8a9be407496&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)