The total volume of retail sales in New Zealand increased by $239 million (0.9 percent) in the December 2025 quarter compared with the September 2025 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
Figures are adjusted for price inflation and seasonal effects.
"Spending on discretionary items helped drive an overall increase in retail activity," economic indicators spokespersons Michelle Feyen said.
"Pharmaceutical and other store-based retailing, electrical and electronic goods, and hardware, building, and garden supplies saw the largest increases in activity this quarter."
Pharmaceutical and other store-based retailing includes multiple categories of retailers that do not fit under the main industry classifications used in the Retail Trade Survey. Some examples of businesses included under this category are souvenir shops, stationery stores, antique stores, and musical instrument retailers.
Twelve of the 15 retail industries had higher sales volumes in the December 2025 quarter compared with the September 2025 quarter.
| "Industry (ANZSIC06)" | "$" |
| "Pharmaceutical and other store-based retailing" | " 91664000" |
| "Electrical and electronic goods retailing" | " 55870000" |
| "Hardware | " 45874000" |
| building | " 42521000" |
| and garden supplies" | " 39671000" |
| "Accommodation" | " 31062000" |
| "Recreational goods retailing" | " 18505000" |
| "Clothing | " 15265000" |
| footwear | " 14972000" |
| and personal accessories" | " 6259000" |
| "Food and beverage services" | " 3160000" |
| "Furniture | " 2436000" |
| floor coverings | " -5933000" |
| houseware | "-54276000" |
| and textile goods" | "-67673000" |
| "Liquor retailing" | |
| "Specialised food retailing" | |
| "Non-store and commission-based retailing" | |
| "Fuel retailing" | |
| "Department stores" | |
| "Supermarket and grocery stores" | |
| "Motor vehicle and parts retailing" |
By industry, the largest movements were:
- pharmaceutical and other store-based retailing - up 5.2 percent
- motor vehicle and parts retailing - down 1.7 percent
- electrical and electronic goods retailing - up 2.2 percent
- supermarket and grocery stores - down 1.1 percent
- hardware, building, and garden supplies - up 2.2 percent.
Retail sales up in most regions
Twelve of the 16 regions had higher retail sales values in the December 2025 quarter compared with the September 2025 quarter, after adjusting for seasonal effects.
Sales in the South Island increased by 2.3 percent ($180 million) to $7.9 billion, while sales in the North Island increased by 1.5 percent ($341 million) to $23 billion.
"Hawke's Bay and Canterbury regions had the highest percentage increase in retail sales this quarter, relative to the previous quarter," Feyen said.
| Region | Percent |
| Hawke's Bay | 3.2 |
| Canterbury | 3.1 |
| Otago | 2.6 |
| Northland | 2.3 |
| Auckland | 1.8 |
| Southland | 1.6 |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | 1.5 |
| Waikato | 1.4 |
| Marlborough | 0.7 |
| Bay of Plenty | 0.6 |
| Wellington | 0.4 |
| Tasman | 0.3 |
| Gisborne | -0.2 |
| Taranaki | -0.8 |
| West Coast | -1 |
| Nelson | -1.6 |
