New Zealand's electronic card retail sales experienced a notable downturn in December 2025, as recent data released on January 21, 2026, reveals a shift into negative territory. The current indicator declined to -0.1%, a stark contrast to the previous month's reading of 1.2% in November. This MoM (Month-over-Month) comparison highlights a significant slowdown in consumer spending, as the festive season did not translate into a boost for electronic card transactions.
The slowdown suggests a potential tightening of consumer budgets and a cautionary approach to spending, possibly prompted by economic uncertainties or seasonal changes in spending habits. The drop follows a November increase wherein electronic card retail sales rose to 1.2%, marking the period then as expansive for consumer confidence and purchasing activities.
This December data underscores the volatility in transactional activities and suggests that retailers might face challenges in maintaining momentum in electronic card sales through unpredictable economic cycles. Stakeholders in the retail economy will closely monitor subsequent months in 2026 to assess whether this decrease was an anomaly or indicative of a broader trend.
