New Zealand’s electronic card retail sales returned to growth at the start of 2026, with the latest data showing a year-over-year increase of 0.4% in January. The reading, released on 15 February 2026, marks a clear turnaround from December 2025, when electronic card spending fell 0.5% compared with a year earlier.
The figures are based on a year-over-year comparison, measuring January 2026 card spending against January 2025, and December 2025 against December 2024. The shift from a negative to a positive annual rate suggests that consumer demand has stabilized after a weak end to 2025, offering an early sign of resilience in New Zealand’s retail sector as the new year began.
