9 Apr 2014

Electronic spending flat

1:06 pm on 9 April 2014

A fall in spending on clothes and fuel resulted in flat spending on electronic cards last month.

Official figures show retail sales using credit, debit and charge cards was unchanged last month, compared with February on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Core retail spending, which excludes the motor vehicle-related industries, was also flat, rising 0.1 percent.

The total value of electronic card spending dipped 0.2 percent.

Spending on fuel had its second consecutive monthly fall, down 1.7 percent, or 13 million dollars.

And the warmer weather may have put people off buying winter clothes, with apparel down 2.4 percent, or $7 million.

Consumables experienced the biggest increase, up 0.4 percent, or $6 million.