The amount of money going through Bay of Plenty registers increased in September, and GST is thought to be the cause.

According to electronic transaction company Paymark, spending in September this year was $216 million compared to $206 million in September 2009.

Paymark head of sales and marketing, Paul Whiston, says that whilst the spending rush was late, it will have provided retailers with a welcome cash bonus late in the year.

'Despite the extra dollars pushed through our network on Thursday last week, September remained relatively flat throughout the country,” says Paul.

'The majority of regions are experiencing mixed growth patterns, which we have seen a lot of this year.”

The petrol, supermarket, building, hardware, travel and electronics sectors accounted for approximately 75 per cent of Thursday's total cash injection, with remaining sectors enjoying an average 12 per cent increase.

By region, Gisborne, South Canterbury and Palmerston North experienced the largest gains in terms of value, increasing seven per cent, 9.9 per cent and 9.7 per cent year-on-year, respectively.