Mount Mainstreet manager Leanne Brown says it appears Mount Maunganui Christmas shoppers are spending sensibly within their means.

This is backed up by latest figures from electronic transaction company Paymark, which show the growth in electronic spending during the first 21 days of December is down on the same period during 2009.

Leanne Brown.

Between last Friday and Sunday, Bay of Plenty shoppers spent $28,903 via electronic transactions – a decrease of 0.6 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Leanne says this is reflected in anecdotal reports from downtown Mount Maunganui retailers.

'In some ways that's good because that means people are not spending beyond their means.”

She thinks there will be a late Christmas rush though.

'I don't like seeing people overspend and over commit, but from a retail perspective I think we will see a spike over the next two days.”

Leanne says most purchases are being made with cash.

'Some stores are still saying they are below on last year, but I think that was pretty much going to be on the cards anyway. People are just being cautious.”