The total retail sales volume fell 3.4 percent in the September 2023 quarter compared with the September 2022 quarter, when adjusting for price effects, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
This fall followed a 3.5-percent decrease in the June 2023 quarter, compared with the June 2022 quarter.
"Decreases in hardware and motor vehicle retailing drove the fall in the total volume of retail sales in the September 2023 quarter, compared with the September 2022 quarter," business financial statistics manager Katrina Dewbery said.
Thirteen of the 15 retail industries had lower total retail sales volumes in the September 2023 quarter compared with the September 2022 quarter.
| Actual | Seasonally adjusted | |
| Sep-18 | 22219692000 | 23255162000 |
| Dec-18 | 25855443000 | 23697990000 |
| Mar-19 | 23307559000 | 23886537000 |
| Jun-19 | 23185489000 | 23844393000 |
| Sep-19 | 23220654000 | 24182514000 |
| Dec-19 | 26709078000 | 24501948000 |
| Mar-20 | 23853477000 | 24173671000 |
| Jun-20 | 19925762000 | 20492026000 |
| Sep-20 | 25092233000 | 26040813000 |
| Dec-20 | 27977684000 | 25596007000 |
| Mar-21 | 25426654000 | 26246797000 |
| Jun-21 | 26511665000 | 27185445000 |
| Sep-21 | 23802707000 | 24685905000 |
| Dec-21 | 29199341000 | 26859087000 |
| Mar-22 | 26007411000 | 26718189000 |
| Jun-22 | 25535164000 | 26184163000 |
| Sep-22 | 24969369000 | 26060785000 |
| Dec-22 | 28026047000 | 25849640000 |
| Mar-23 | 24939197000 | 25501792000 |
| Jun-23 | 24630447000 | 25263430000 |
| Sep-23 | 24113270000 | 25273792000 |
Seasonally adjusted series are subject to revision as more data is collected in future periods. Seasonal patterns have evolved since COVID-19 impacts first started.
After seasonal patterns were also removed, total retail sales volumes remained unchanged in the September 2023 quarter compared with the June 2023 quarter. This followed a 0.9-percent decrease in the June 2023 quarter compared with the March 2023 quarter.
Seasonal adjustment and automatic outliers in time series after COVID-19 outlines updates that we are working to implement. This is likely to cause significant revisions to our seasonally adjusted series. An information paper will be made available in advance of the relevant release to advise of any changes.
