Card spending remains flat in June

Spending using retail cards remained static in June at $6.8 billion when seasonally adjusted, Stats NZ reports, with the British and Irish Lions Rugby tour potentially offsetting a fall in petrol spending. The total value of electronic card spending rose 0.1 per cent in June, following a 0.1 per cent decline in May. "Retail spending in the June month was flat because the high hospitality spending was offset by the low fuel prices," business indicators manager Sue Chapman said. "The increased spending on hospitality could be largely a result of the influx of British and Irish Lions fans."  Hospitality spending rose $23 million, or 2.4 per cent, while petrol spending was down $19 million, or 3.2 per cent. The other four industries remained virtually unchanged, including vehicles, up $1 million, or 0.3 per cent, to $167 million. Spending on vehicles has remained flat since March, when it was valued at $166 million. Year-on-year, seasonally-adjusted spending on vehicles using electronic cards has risen five per cent.