New Zealand Credit Card Spending Falls 1.4% in June

Seasonally adjusted electronic card transactions in New Zealand dropped 0.9% month-on-month in August 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 1.2% rise in the previous month. The decline was weighed down by lower spending on hospitality (-1.7% vs 2.4% in July), durables (-1.6% vs 2.0%), apparel (-2.0% vs 3.2%), and consumables (-0.4% vs 1.0%), while motor vehicle spending declined at a faster pace (-0.3% vs -0.2%). In contrast, fuel spending rose 1.3% after falling 4.2% in July. On an annual basis, total electronic card spending edged up 0.2%, easing sharply from a 3.4% gain in July and marking the softest increase since December 2025, when spending declined 0.5%.

Seasonally adjusted electronic card transactions in New Zealand rose 1.3% month over month in July 2026, recovering from a downwardly revised 1.3% decline in the previous month. The rebound was driven by a recovery in spending on hospitality (3.2% vs -2.4% in June), durables (2.5% vs -3.8%), and apparel (3.2% vs -2.1%). Additionally, spending on consumables accelerated (1.0% vs 0.4% in June). In contrast, fuel spending continued to decline due to the impact of the Middle East conflict (-4.3% vs -1.8%), while motor vehicle spending edged down (-0.1% vs 0.8%). On an annual basis, total electronic card spending rose 3.4%, following a 1.3% increase in June, marking the fastest increase since at least July 2025.

Seasonally adjusted electronic card transactions in New Zealand dropped 1.4% month over month in June 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 1.6% decline in the previous month. The third decline so far this year was driven by lower spending on hospitality (-1.9% vs 1.4% in May), durables (-3.9% vs 3.2%), and apparel (-2.2% vs 3.0%). Additionally, fuel spending continued to decline due to the impact of the Middle East conflict (-1.7% vs -1.5%). Additionally, spending on consumables (0.4% vs 0.9% in May) and motor vehicles (0.8% vs 1.6%) both eased. On an annual basis, total electronic card spending rose 1.3%, easing from 3.3% growth in May and marking the softest increase in five months.