NZ retail sales volumes rise 1.7% in December quarter, higher than expected

NZ retail sales volumes rise 1.7% in December quarter, higher than expected
Rebecca Howard
By Rebecca Howard Feb. 25 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand retail sales volumes lifted more than expected in the December quarter, boosted by spending on pharmaceuticals, duty-free goods, and food services  Retail sales volumes rose a seasonally adjusted 1.7 percent in the December quarter from a revised 0.3 percent gain in the September period, Stats NZ said. That's higher than the 0.5 percent gain expected by economists. In reaction, the New Zealand dollar rose to 68.61 US cents from 68.41 cents just prior.  Robust spending over the D...