Christchurch is leading a growth in retail and hospitality sales, but some businesses say they expected more at this stage in the city's rebuild from recent damaging earthquakes.
The 2.7% rise is three times higher than in the rest of the country (at 0.9%) and marks the fourth consecutive quarter of growth in the South Island city.
Since June 2010, Christchurch has experienced a 13% growth in retail sales, driven by building, garden supplies, cars and fuel.
The owner of the Hamptons ITM Building Centre in Christchurch says its sales are higher than before the quakes in 2010 and 2011, but the growth is not as strong as it should be at this stage of the rebuild.
David Flemming said that is because insurance and consent delays have held up construction in the city and sales should grow further once for more building projects are approved.
The group managing director of Briscoe Group says his company's sales grew nationwide, but its Christchurch outlets did not stand out from the others.
Rod Duke says dramatic sales growth in the city is limited to particular businesses at present.
But a coffee company says its sales have soared in Christchurch in the past year. Switch Expresso managing director Hamish Evans says its flagship cafe Black Betty has enjoyed a 28% growth, while the company's wholesale business has seen a 35% increase.
