Electricity, gas, water, and waste services sales reached $5.3 billion in the March 2021 quarter, up 15 percent ($686 million) from the same time last year, Stats NZ said today.
The Business financial data release covers most market industries in the New Zealand economy, using survey and tax data. Business financial data (BFD) feeds into the measure of gross domestic product. The Gross domestic product: March 2021 quarter release will be published on 17 June 2021.
See Business financial data: March 2021 quarter for more information.
Electricity generation makes up a large proportion of this industry's sales due to the non-market nature of gas, water, and waste services.
"Electricity generation, which is largely affected by price changes, drove the rise in sales for the electricity, gas, water, and waste services industry" business statistics manager Sue Chapman said.
| "Electricity | |
| Mar-17 | gas |
| Jun-17 | water |
| Sep-17 | and waste services sales" |
| Dec-17 | 3959543000 |
| Mar-18 | 4455531000 |
| Jun-18 | 5288065000 |
| Sep-18 | 4495831000 |
| Dec-18 | 4601996000 |
| Mar-19 | 4587347000 |
| Jun-19 | 5165815000 |
| Sep-19 | 5644675000 |
| Dec-19 | 4952943000 |
| Mar-20 | 5296602000 |
| Jun-20 | 5564597000 |
| Sep-20 | 4967912000 |
| Dec-20 | 4626406000 |
| Mar-21 | 4867933000 |
| Electricity and gas supply industry output price index | |
| Mar-17 | 1162 |
| Jun-17 | 1228 |
| Sep-17 | 1280 |
| Dec-17 | 1251 |
| Mar-18 | 1248 |
| Jun-18 | 1233 |
| Sep-18 | 1260 |
| Dec-18 | 1488 |
| Mar-19 | 1398 |
| Jun-19 | 1310 |
| Sep-19 | 1336 |
| Dec-19 | 1291 |
| Mar-20 | 1267 |
| Jun-20 | 1308 |
| Sep-20 | 1350 |
| Dec-20 | 1307 |
| Mar-21 | 1487 |
The output price index for electricity and gas supply, graphed above, measures the price received by producers for electricity and gas supply generation. This index rose 17 percent from the December 2020 quarter and 21 percent from the March 2020 quarter.
"We saw hydroelectricity generation sales in particular rise, likely caused by lower lake levels," Ms Chapman said.
See Electricity prices spike in March quarter for more information.
Wholesale trade and retail trade sales also rise over the year
By value, the largest annual sales increase of the BFD industries came from wholesale trade, up $1.63 billion (6.1 percent) in the March 2021 quarter.
See Wholesale and manufacturing sales on the rise this March quarter for more information.
The second largest annual industry increase was retail trade (excluding accommodation and food and beverage services), which rose $1.58 billion (7.7 percent) over the year.
See Retail spending rises in first quarter of 2021 for more information.
Construction sales continue to rise
Construction industry sales rose $1.2 billion (6.4 percent) in the March 2021 quarter, from the December 2020 quarter, when adjusted for seasonal effects.
| Actual | Seasonally adjusted | |
| Mar-17 | 13367602000 | 14583413000 |
| Jun-17 | 15121242000 | 14624787000 |
| Sep-17 | 14890877000 | 14756296000 |
| Dec-17 | 15832221000 | 15213488000 |
| Mar-18 | 14111011000 | 15388944000 |
| Jun-18 | 16480010000 | 15958252000 |
| Sep-18 | 16459025000 | 16299435000 |
| Dec-18 | 16806615000 | 16153696000 |
| Mar-19 | 15357359000 | 16745307000 |
| Jun-19 | 17623099000 | 17062031000 |
| Sep-19 | 17769074000 | 17601209000 |
| Dec-19 | 18744633000 | 18015919000 |
| Mar-20 | 16964326000 | 18506685000 |
| Jun-20 | 13626094000 | 13180100000 |
| Sep-20 | 19354600000 | 19175299000 |
| Dec-20 | 19641460000 | 18888487000 |
| Mar-21 | 18423251000 | 20099327000 |
"The construction industry has continued to grow, following the COVID-affected June quarter when construction work temporarily stopped," Ms Chapman said.
The increase in construction was driven by residential building construction and land development.
Transport and travel still slowed by COVID-19
The largest annual sales fall was seen for transport, postal, and warehousing, down $1.0 billion (or 12 percent) over the year to the March 2021 quarter.
However, when adjusted for seasonal effects, transport, postal, and warehousing sales rose $258 million (3.8 percent) in the March 2021 quarter, from the December 2020 quarter.
"While transport, postal, and warehousing sales increased over the March 2021 quarter, they remain significantly lower than the same time last year, reflecting New Zealand's borders being closed," Ms Chapman said.
| Administrative and support services | "Transport | |
| Mar-18 | 4385450000 | postal |
| Jun-18 | 4651437000 | and warehousing services" |
| Sep-18 | 4520750000 | 7956509000 |
| Dec-18 | 4496591000 | 7888195000 |
| Mar-19 | 4558347000 | 8056203000 |
| Jun-19 | 4451516000 | 8061752000 |
| Sep-19 | 4669950000 | 8275352000 |
| Dec-19 | 4694709000 | 8421212000 |
| Mar-20 | 4362401000 | 8325687000 |
| Jun-20 | 3153713000 | 8297584000 |
| Sep-20 | 3615777000 | 7965416000 |
| Dec-20 | 3517014000 | 5684915000 |
| Mar-21 | 3451671000 | 6675088000 |
The second largest annual sales fall was in administrative and support services, down $856 million (21 percent) from the March 2020 quarter. This industry includes travel agency and tour arrangement services.
When adjusted for seasonal effects, sales for this industry fell $65 million (1.9 percent) from December 2020 quarter.
"This data covers the March 2021 quarter, which ended prior to the travel bubble with Australia opening in April and the extension to the Cook Islands in May," Ms Chapman said.
