New Zealand’s electronic card retail sales growth slowed markedly in June, pointing to a cooling in consumer spending momentum halfway through 2026. Year-over-year growth in electronic card transactions eased to 1.3% in June 2026, down from 3.3% in May 2026, according to data updated on 14 July 2026.
The figures compare the value of card spending in each month with the same month a year earlier, showing that June’s annual pace of increase was less than half that recorded in May. While still positive, the softer June result suggests households may be becoming more cautious in their spending, a development that will be closely watched by businesses and policymakers assessing the strength of domestic demand in the second half of the year.
