Paymark points to slight rise in spending in March quarter

Paymark points to slight rise in spending in March quarter
Rebecca Howard
By Rebecca Howard April 8 (BusinessDesk) - Retail sales using electronic cards lifted in the March quarter but remain below the average of the past five years, according to data from Paymark, which accounts for more than 75 percent of the country's electronic transactions. Spending rose a seasonally adjusted 0.9 percent versus the December quarter and was up 1.3 percent when spending at fuel merchants is excluded, Paymark said. Both rates, however, are below the average of the previous five years of 1.4 percent and 1.5 percent respectivel...