Latest News Stream - Credit Card Spending

New Zealand’s electronic card transactions decreased 0.7% in October 2026, following a 0.4% drop in September. Spending on durable goods fell 2.1%, followed by motor vehicles (-2%) and hospitality (-1.6%). Transactions for consumable goods (-0.3%) and apparel (-0.7%) also declined. The only retail category to record an increase was fuel, up 4.8% amid elevated prices. The total value of electronic card spending, including non-retail categories, decreased 1.2%, as services spending fell 1.1%. Cardholders made 173 million transactions across all industries in October, with the total amount spent using electronic cards reaching $9.6 billion. Year-on-year, credit eletronic card spending increased 0.3% in October.

Seasonally adjusted electronic card transactions in New Zealand fell 0.4% month-on-month in September 2026, following a 0.9% drop in the previous month. The smaller decline came as spending on consumables (0.3% vs -0.4% in August) and motor vehicles (0.6% vs -0.3%) both rebounded, while spending on fuel rose at a faster pace (2.9% vs 1.5%). These gains were offset by declines in spending on hospitality (-2.3% vs -1.9% in August), durables (-0.4% vs -1.6%), and apparel (-2.0% vs -2.0%). On an annual basis, total electronic card spending rose 0.9%, accelerating from a 0.2% gain in August, which was the softest increase since December 2025.

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.

Seasonally adjusted electronic card transactions in New Zealand grew 1.7% month-over-month in May 2026, recovering from a downwardly revised 1.2% fall in the previous month. The rebound was supported by recoveries in spending on consumables (0.9% vs -2.1% in April), hospitality (2.5% vs -1.7%), durables (2.7% vs -0.9%), motor vehicles (1.6% vs -4.0%), and apparel (3.1% vs -1.2%). Additionally, fuel spending continued to decline due to the impact of the Middle East conflict, though at a slower pace (-0.8% vs -1.5%). On an annual basis, total electronic card spending rose 3.3%, accelerating from a 2.0% increase in April.

Seasonally adjusted electronic card transactions in New Zealand fell 1.3% month-over-month in April 2026, reversing a 0.7% rise in the previous month. It marked the first decline in three months, as spending in all categories dropped, with fuel spending falling 2.0% due to the impact of the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, consumables (-2.1% vs 1.1% in March), hospitality (-1.3% vs -2.4%), durables (-1.1% vs 1.2%), motor vehicles (-4.1% vs 1.9%), and apparel (-1.3% vs -4.2%) also declined. On an annual basis, total electronic card spending rose 2.0%, following a 2.7% increase in March.

Seasonally adjusted electronic card transactions in New Zealand increased 0.7% month-over-month in March 2026, following a 1.4% rise in the previous month. It marked the second straight month of growth, although the pace eased compared to the previous month. The moderation came as spending in some categories eased, including consumables (1.1% vs 1.8% in February) and durables (1.2% vs 1.3%). Additionally, spending declined in hospitality (-2.4% vs 2.4%) and apparel (-4.2% vs 1.9%). In contrast, spending on fuel jumped 17.3%, rebounding sharply from a 1.1% fall in February, due to higher fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, spending on motor vehicles excluding fuel rose 1.9%, recovering from a 0.2% drop in the previous month. On an annual basis, total electronic card spending rose 2.7%, after a 1.5% growth in February.

The seasonally adjusted electronic card transactions in New Zealand rose 1.4% month-over-month in February 2026, reversing a 1.1% decline in the previous month and marking the first rise since last November. The upturn was supported by strength in some categories, including consumables (1.8%), durables (1.3%), hospitality (2.4%), and apparel (0.6%). In contrast, fuel (-1.2%) and motor vehicles excluding fuel (-0.5%) declined. On an annual basis, total electronic card spending grew 1.5%, picking up from a 0.4% increase in January.

The seasonally adjusted electronic card transactions in New Zealand fell 1.1% month-over-month in January 2026, steeper than a 0.3% decline in the previous month. The latest result marked the fastest drop since January 2025, dragged by declines in some categories, including consumables (-0.9%), durables (-1.7%), hospitality (-2.1%), and fuel (-3.7%). In contrast, apparel (0.6%), motor vehicles excluding fuel (0.2%), and services (1.9%) posted gains. On an annual basis, total electronic card spending grew 0.4%, reversing a 0.5% fall in December.

Electronic card transactions in New Zealand decreased 0.1% month-over-month (seasonally adjusted) to NZD 11.0 billion in December 2025. Spending rose in some categories, notably fuel (1.1%) and hospitality (1.4%), while consumables (-0.1%) and services (-2.1%) fell. On the other hand, apparel (-3.6%), motor vehicles, excluding fuel (-1.8%), and durables (-0.1%) all declined. On an annual basis, total electronic card spending decreased 1% in December, following a 1.8% rise a month earlier.

Electronic card transactions in New Zealand rose 1.2% month-over-month (seasonally adjusted) to NZD 7.01 billion in November 2025. Spending increased in several categories, including consumables (0.4%), fuel (1.8%), and services were up 2.8%. On the other hand, durables (2.1%), hospitality (1.3%), apparel (3.4%), vehicles (2.6%) all rose. On an annual basis, total electronic card spending increased 1.8% in November, following a 0.8% rise a month earlier, reflecting steady but moderate growth in consumer activity.

Electronic card transactions in New Zealand rose 0.2% month-over-month (seasonally adjusted) to NZD 6.90 billion in October 2025. Spending increased in several categories, including consumables (0.8%),fuel (0.5%), and services were flat. On the other hand, durables (-0.1%), hospitality (-1.4%), apparel (-0.6%), vehicles (-1.2%) all fell. On an annual basis, total electronic card spending increased 0.8% in October, following a 1% rise in a month earlier, reflecting steady but moderate growth in consumer activity.

Electronic card transactions in New Zealand fell 0.5% month-over-month (seasonally adjusted) to NZD 6.89 billion in September 2025. Spending dropped in several categories, including consumables (-1%), motor vehicles (-2.7%), apparel (-0.4%), fuel (-1%), and durables (-0.4%), while spending in hospitality (+1.4%) rose. On an annual basis, total electronic card spending increased 1% in September, following a 0.9% rise in a month earlier, reflecting steady but moderate growth in consumer activity.

Electronic card transactions in New Zealand increased 0.7% month-over-month (seasonally adjusted) to NZD 6.94 billion in August 2025. Spending increased across hospitality (+1.4%), durables (+0.5%), consumables (+0.3%), and apparel (+1.8%), while fuel (-0.1%) and motor vehicles excluding fuel (-0.9%) saw slight declines. On a year-on-year basis, total electronic card spending grew 0.9% in August, following a 1.7% increase in July, indicating steady but moderate growth in consumer activity.

Electronic card transactions in New Zealand rose 0.2% month-over-month (seasonally adjusted) to NZD 6.89 billion in July 2025. By category, spending increased in consumables (0.5%), motor vehicles (5.2%), and hospitality (0.5%), while fuel (-0.1%), apparel (-1.9%), and durables (-0.8%) saw declines. On an annual basis, total electronic card spending grew 1.7% in June, rebounding from a 0.3% year-over-year decline the previous month.

Electronic card transactions in New Zealand rose 0.5% to NZD 6.88 billion in June 2025, on a month-over-month, seasonally adjusted basis. By category, spending increased in consumables (1%), durables (0.6%), and apparel (3.1%). Fuel spending was unchanged, while declines were recorded in hospitality (-0.3%) and motor vehicles (-2.7%). However, on an annual basis, total electronic card spending fell 0.4% in June, marking a deeper contraction than the 0.1% year-over-year decline seen in May.

Electronic card transactions in New Zealand edged down 0.2% to NZD 6.46 billion in May 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis. By category, spending declined in fuel (-2.4%), durables (-0.5%), and consumables (-0.1%). In contrast, slight gains were recorded in apparel (+0.1%), hospitality (+0.1%), and motor vehicles excluding fuel (+2.6%). On a year-over-year basis, total electronic card spending rose 0.9% in May, marking the first annual increase in 14 months and reversing a 0.3% decline in April.

Electronic card transactions in New Zealand were unchanged at NZD 6.46 billion in April 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis. Within retail categories, spending rose on consumables (+0.5%), hospitality (+0.2%), and durables (+0.1%). However, declines were seen in motor vehicles (excluding fuel) (-2.9%), apparel (-1.9%), and fuel (-2.2%). On an annual basis, total electronic card spending edged down 0.3% in April, marking the 13th straight month of year-over-year declines, after a 1.6% drop in March — highlighting persistent weakness in consumer spending.

Electronic card transactions in New Zealand fell by 0.8% month-on-month to NZD 6.46 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis in March 2025. Among retail categories, spending on durables dropped 2.5%, hospitality declined 1.1%, fuel was down 2.3%, and apparel fell 2.1%. In contrast, spending on motor vehicles rose 2.1%, while consumables edged up 0.4%. On a year-on-year basis, total electronic card spending decreased by 1.6% in March, marking the twelfth consecutive month of annual declines—signaling a sustained downturn in consumer spending.