Christchurch retail activity continues recovery

2:07 pm on 4 January 2013

Christchurch retail activity continued to recover in the third quarter of last year, thanks to strong rises in retail trade, accommodation and food service.

Statistics New Zealand says total retail activity increased 2.1% in the September quarter, following a rise of 2.5% in the June quarter.

This is in comparison with a 0.8% fall at the national level.

Industry and labour statistics manager Tehseen Islam says since the June 2010 quarter, before the earthquakes began, Christchurch's total retail activity has risen 6.8%, compared with the national increase of 8%.