Nationwide consumer spending fell significantly in the September 2021 quarter, influenced by a record fall in retail sales for the Auckland region, Stats NZ said today.
With price effects included, the seasonally adjusted total sales values fell 7.0 percent ($2.0 billion) compared with the 4.2 percent ($1.1 billion) rise in the June 2021 quarter.
The Auckland region dominated the national fall with a record decrease of 15 percent (1.5 billion) in the September 2021 quarter, compared with the 6.2 percent ($618 million) rise in the June 2021 quarter.
This region accounts for 35 percent of the national sales, but it has significantly contributed 78 percent to the large fall in total sales values this quarter.
| Quarter | Auckland | Total New Zealand |
| Sep-16 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| Dec-16 | 1.3 | 2.0 |
| Mar-17 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Jun-17 | 0.5 | 1.1 |
| Sep-17 | 1.6 | 0.9 |
| Dec-17 | 0.4 | 1.5 |
| Mar-18 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| Jun-18 | 1.3 | 0.9 |
| Sep-18 | 0.6 | 1.1 |
| Dec-18 | 1.8 | 1.9 |
| Mar-19 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Jun-19 | 0.6 | -0.1 |
| Sep-19 | 1.9 | 1.8 |
| Dec-19 | 2.2 | 1.3 |
| Mar-20 | -1.5 | -0.7 |
| Jun-20 | -16 | -18 |
| Sep-20 | 22 | 29 |
| Dec-20 | 1.8 | -1.2 |
| Mar-21 | 3.0 | 2.6 |
| Jun-21 | 6.2 | 4.2 |
| Sep-21 | -15 | -7.0 |
The Auckland region remained in the extended level 4 lockdown for 5 weeks from 17 August to 21 September, with only essential businesses open. The rest of New Zealand moved to alert level 3 on 31 August, then to alert level 2 on 7 September, with some further restrictions for the Northland region.
Lockdowns significantly impact retail sales volumes
After adjusting for price and seasonal effects, the volume of total retail sales fell 8.1 percent in the September 2021 quarter, compared with the 3.3 percent rise in the June 2021 quarter.
“The country’s lockdowns in August and September resulted in lower sales across most retail industries,” retail trade manager Sue Chapman said.
| Actual | Seasonally adjusted | |
| Sep-16 | 20679650491 | 21600345520 |
| Dec-16 | 23697125551 | 21858033820 |
| Mar-17 | 21930375073 | 22235533110 |
| Jun-17 | 21856747162 | 22542697940 |
| Sep-17 | 21634738866 | 22698602900 |
| Dec-17 | 24984612693 | 22968917660 |
| Mar-18 | 22552229274 | 22993223040 |
| Jun-18 | 22534191715 | 23190395820 |
| Sep-18 | 22219691690 | 23261137810 |
| Dec-18 | 25855442600 | 23663297420 |
| Mar-19 | 23307558860 | 23903222720 |
| Jun-19 | 23185488660 | 23808595890 |
| Sep-19 | 23220654140 | 24243362420 |
| Dec-19 | 26709077700 | 24461085720 |
| Mar-20 | 23845114490 | 24189225270 |
| Jun-20 | 19893891590 | 20423436410 |
| Sep-20 | 25096068220 | 26219396250 |
| Dec-20 | 27977684080 | 25626853670 |
| Mar-21 | 25426653990 | 26210277420 |
| Jun-21 | 26511665000 | 27072269280 |
| Sep-21 | 23802706770 | 24886170800 |
Food and beverage services had the largest fall, down 19 percent, compared with the 5.2 percent increase in the June 2021 quarter.
Motor vehicles and parts (down 12 percent), department stores (down 24 percent), and hardware and building supplies (down 15 percent) also contributed to the significant sales volume fall in the September 2021 quarter compared with the June 2021 quarter.
“Several comments from vehicle dealers and building supply owners stated that extended lockdowns, increased inventory costs, and increased supply issues led to lower sales and higher stocks this quarter,” Ms Chapman said.
Supermarket and grocery sales had the largest rise in sales, up 7.5 percent after the modest increase of 0.5 percent in the June 2021 quarter.
“The surge in supermarket sales had repeated what was seen in the first national lockdown last year, when grocery sales jumped to a record 8.6 percent rise in the March 2020 quarter,” Ms Chapman said.
| Industry (ANZSIC06) | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Supermarket and grocery stores | 4678409902 | 4882005342 | 5167743987 |
| Department stores | 1623046520 | 1827421518 | 1423275749 |
| “Hardware | 2064736988 | 2355822015 | 2109575365 |
| building | 3434894287 | 3900836789 | 3526487656 |
| and garden supplies” | 2547538582 | 2398748885 | 2116500146 |
| Motor vehicle and parts retailing | |||
| Food and beverage services |
In actual terms the total retail sales values were $25 billion in the September 2021 quarter, falling 1.7 percent ($438 million) from the stronger September quarter of 2020.
