NZ retail sales rise 1.2 percent in fourth quarter, less than expected, led by fuel, clothing

NZ retail sales rise 1.2 percent  in fourth quarter, less than expected, led by fuel, clothing
Feb. 17 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand retail sales rose less than expected in the fourth quarter, with fuel, clothing and recreational goods leading the gains, while food, liquor, grocery and commission sales fell. The volume of retail sales rose 1.2 percent, seasonally adjusted, in the final three months of 2013, according to Statistics New Zealand. Actual sales were up 3.9 percent from the same quarter a year earlier. Sales lagged behind the 1.6 percent quarterly gain and 4.5 percent annual increase forecast by economists in a Reuters survey...