Statistics New Zealand says retail spending using electronic cards was $4.3 billion in June 2015, up five per cent ($206m) on June 2014.

When adjusted for seasonal effects retail spending also rose by 0.5 per cent in June 2015 compared with May 2015, and this rise follows an increase of 1.3 per cent in May.

According to Statistics NZ, retail spending using electronic cards was $4.3 billion in June 2015. Photo: File

Electronic cards includes all debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants.

This information can be used as an indicator of the change in the level of consumption expenditure and economic activity in general.

Statistics NZ business indicators manager Neil Kelly says spending rose in four of the six retail industries.

'Fuel spending had the largest rise, returning to the levels seen before the price falls of late last year,” says Neil. 'The rise in fuel was partially offset by falls in apparel and durables spending.”

The fuel industry saw spending up by $19m (3.1 per cent) compared to May, while apparel was down by $3.1m (1.1 per cent), and durables down by $2.3m (0.2 per cent).

Core retail spending, which excludes the vehicle-related industries, was flat in June 2015, following a 0.4 per cent rise in May.

The total value of electronic card spending, including the two non-retail industries (services and other non-retail), rose 0.6 per cent. This rise follows a 1.4 per cent rise in May 2015.

Trends for the total, retail, and core retail series have generally been rising since these series began in October 2002.

At the time of publication, values were only available at a national level and were not adjusted for price changes.