Slow start to year for sales

Sales volumes and values for the automotive industry fell by four per cent and 3.6 per cent respectively during the first quarter of 2022 when compared with the final three months of last year.

Motor vehicle and parts retailing was the industry that suffered the biggest hits in dollar terms over that period, according to new figures from Stats NZ.

Seasonally adjusted retail sales volumes dropped by $168 million from the December 2021 quarter to the March 2022 quarter, and values fell by $157m during the same time.

Six of the 15 industries studied had lower sales volumes between the quarters, while the other nine all experienced increases. For sales values, only four industries were in decline with the other 11 all on the up.

Across the country, 12 of the 16 regions had higher sales values in the March quarter compared with the figures from the December 2021 period.

The largest changes were in Auckland, up 3.6 per cent or $387m and Waikato with an extra 4.2 per cent or $109m, while the biggest fallers were Otago, which was down 1.7 per cent or $22m, and West Coast slipping 5.6 per cent or $9m.

The total value of stock stood at $9.3 billion at the end of March, which was an increase of 12 per cent or $1b from the same time a year ago.

Motor vehicle and parts retailing was the second largest climber over that period, sitting behind hardware, building and garden supplies, and increased by 16 per cent or $276m.