Plastic card spending rise hits record in New Zealand shops

The rise in New Zealand core consumer spending with plastic cards last month was the highest in more than a decade, the government statistics agency announced Monday. Electronic card spending in the core retail industries, which exclude motor vehicle-related industries, rose 1.8 percent in October, following a fall of 1 percent in September, according to Statistics New Zealand. "October's increase in core retail spending was the largest since records began in October 2002," industry and labor statistics manager Blair Cardno said in a statement. "Durables accounted for most of the extra spending, although shoppers did spend more in all six of the retail industries." Spending on durables (furniture, hardware and appliances) rose 46 million NZ dollars, or 4.3 percent, the largest increase since the series began and followed a fall of 35 million (3.2 percent) in September. Spending in total retail, including the motor vehicle-related industries, was up 1.4 percent in October, following a decrease of 0.9 percent in September.