The total volume of retail sales in New Zealand increased by $472 million (1.9 percent) in the September 2025 quarter compared with the June 2025 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
Figures are adjusted for price inflation and seasonal effects.
"Retail activity recorded an increase in the September quarter, with growth in most industries, this is the largest increase in activity since December 2021," economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.
"Motor vehicle and electrical and electronic goods retailing saw the largest increases this quarter."
Eight of the 15 retail industries had higher sales volumes in the September 2025 quarter, compared with the June 2025 quarter.
| "Industry (ANZSIC06)" | "$" |
| "Motor vehicle and parts retailing" | "260132000" |
| "Electrical and electronic goods retailing" | "228665000" |
| "Food and beverage services" | " 41703000" |
| "Hardware | " 33781000" |
| building | " 28474000" |
| and garden supplies" | " 26210000" |
| "Department stores" | " 9381000" |
| "Pharmaceutical and other store-based retailing" | " 2899000" |
| "Furniture | " -2636000" |
| floor coverings | " -6527000" |
| houseware | "-12429000" |
| and textile goods" | "-12877000" |
| "Recreational goods retailing" | "-26427000" |
| "Specialised food retailing" | "-29561000" |
| "Liquor retailing" | "-69152000" |
| "Non-store and commission-based retailing" | |
| "Accommodation" | |
| "Clothing | |
| footwear | |
| and personal accessories" | |
| "Fuel retailing" | |
| "Supermarket and grocery stores" |
By industry, the largest movements were:
- motor vehicle and parts retailing - up 7.2 percent
- electrical and electronic goods retailing - up 9.8 percent
- supermarket and grocery stores - down 1.4 percent
- food and beverage services - up 1.6 percent
- hardware, building, and garden supplies - up 1.7 percent.
Retail sales increase in most regions
Fourteen of the 16 regions had higher retail sales values in the September 2025 quarter, compared with the June 2025 quarter, after adjusting for seasonal effects.
Sales in the South Island increased by 1.7 percent ($132 million) to $7.7 billion, while sales in the North Island increased by 1.4 percent ($318 million) to $23 billion. Regional data is not adjusted for price effects.
"Nelson and Southland regions had the highest percentage increase in retail sales this quarter, relative to the previous quarter," Feyen said.
| Region | Percent |
| Nelson | 3.3 |
| Southland | 2.8 |
| Wellington | 2.3 |
| Northland | 2.1 |
| Marlborough | 2 |
| Canterbury | 2 |
| Waikato | 1.9 |
| Auckland | 1.3 |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | 1.2 |
| Bay of Plenty | 0.9 |
| Otago | 0.9 |
| Gisborne | 0.8 |
| West Coast | 0.8 |
| Taranaki | 0.6 |
| Tasman | 0 |
| Hawke's Bay | -0.2 |
