NZ debit, credit card retail spending gains 1.2% in February, led by hospitality

NZ debit, credit card retail spending gains 1.2% in February, led by hospitality
By Suze Metherell March 10 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealanders increased spending on debit and credit cards in February, led by gains in hospitality and apparel as low inflation makes households more relaxed about their consumption. The value of core retail spending, which strips out spending on fuel and vehicle related items, rose 1.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted $3.94 billion last month, accelerating from January's revised 1 percent gain, Statistics New Zealand said. Spending on hospitality climbed 2.8 percent to $601 million last mo...