One of the many sales on offer in downtown Nelson on Boxing Day this year. Nelson businesses had a busy Boxing Day with spending up nearly two per cent on the 2018 figures. Around 60,000 transactions were made in Nelson on Boxing Day (an increase of 2.8 per cent), which added up to a total spend of $3 million (an increase of 1.7 per cent). Boxing Day sales were generally positive across the country, with Paymark's figures showing an average increase in spending of 3.9 per cent, reaching a total of $149.8 million. READ MORE:* Nelson not catching on to Black Friday wave* Bargain hunters spend big in Blenheim on Boxing Day* Boxing day spending in Southland risesThe big gainers this year were supermarkets (+5.1 per cent), liquor retailers (+14.2 per cent), and cafes and restaurants (+6.1 per cent).

Source: Stuff December 27, 2019 00:45 UTC