New Zealand’s retail spending has halved in alert level 4 but spending on food and alcohol has spiked, especially on the eve of lockdown, with booze sales nationwide skyrocketing nearly 500 per cent. In Palmerston North alcohol sales increased by 716 per cent, the highest of anywhere in the country, he said. Spending on betting products such as the TAB and Lotto also jumped by 65 per cent, while spending at bars increased 28 per cent and restaurants jumped 11 per cent. However, online retailing didn’t take off until alert level 3 came in, he said. ASB Bank said the move to alert level 4 would dent third quarter retail sales.

Source: Stuff August 24, 2021 03:45 UTC