The value of actual fashion sales across New Zealand slipped by 2.3 per cent in the December 2025 quarter compared to the same time in 2024.
Fashion sales values for the quarter hit NZ$1.499 billion, which is expectedly up on the September 2025 quarter, but failed to pass the NZ$1.5 billion recorded in December 2024.
Despite this sales slip in the December 2025 quarter for fashion, total core retail spending, which excludes motor vehicles and fuel, lifted by 0.8 per cent year-on-year, in actual terms. This was driven by lifts in sales across supermarkets by 5.4 per cent, as well as pharmaceutical retailing (up 5.9 per cent), accommodation (up 8.6 per cent), and food and beverage services (up 4.2 per cent).
Larger year-on-year falls were recorded in liquor (down 9.5 per cent), recreational goods (down 6.7 per cent) and hardware (down 6.5 per cent).
The total value of actual retail sales was NZ$34 billion, up 4.9 per cent (or NZ$1.6 billion), compared with the December 2024 quarter.
Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young said the overall result does indicate positive growth signs for the total retail market.
“It is heartening to see the value of retail sales moving in the right direction, and that it is now beginning to outpace inflation,” Young said.
“Pharmaceuticals and other store-based retailing experienced a big jump, which may have been buoyed by the increasing presence of big box pharmacies. This market segment also includes souvenir shops and stationery stores where the holiday spending period was likely a factor.
“There was also a boost in sales of electronic goods, which is a market segment that dominates the Black Friday sales period at the end of November.”
However, the data shows stock values for core retail industries were down 0.5 per cent compared to the previous year.
Young said that while the decrease in stock values was just half a per cent, it reflects what Retail NZ has been hearing from its members: “That retailers are adjusting their stock levels and softening their sales targets to reflect the restrained levels of consumer spending,” Young said.
“It’s been a particularly difficult year for apparel, with this data showing stock values down 4.9 per cent for the clothing, footwear and accessories segment of the market. They will be hoping that 2026 will provide a much-needed turnaround in fortune.”