Electronic card spending up 1.8%

Spending rose across all six of the retail industries in the March quarter. The largest rises came from the consumables (grocery and liquor retailing) industry, up $125 million (2.2 percent) and the hospitality industry, up $87 million (2.9 percent). “The rise in retail card spending in the March quarter was driven by an increase in grocery and liquor spending,” retail manager Sue Chapman said. “ This was the largest increase in grocery and liquor retailing since December 2010 and coincided with a record increase in spending in the March month. The motor vehicle industry dropped by 1.8 per cent or $3.2 million last month compared with February 2018. However, the vehicle industry in the March 2018 quarter was up by $7.5 million or 1.5 per cent compared with the December 2017 quarter.