Marketview has its finger on the pulse of consumer spending, events, news and trends throughout New Zealand

With up-to-date data across all retail industries, Marketview often provides commentary on consumer spending news and retail events, as well as analysis of the wider economic environment, tourism industry, and spending trends.

If you are looking for Marketview to comment on a media story, or provide data for a piece, please get in touch.

RECENT UPDATES FROM MARKETVIEW

Easing the strain on our tourism market


Posted on 23 October, under Commentary, Regions

New Zealand is becoming an increasingly desirable place to holiday. At its current pace, the tourism industry looks like it will shatter its 2025 target of being a $41b industry. While the exponential growth of the industry may seem like a positive, Marketview figures show that the strain on tourist hot spots may outweigh any potential financial benefits.

 

Fuel 101: unpacking the rising cost of petrol


Posted on 23 October, under Monthly Reports, Commentary

2018 has seen the price New Zealanders pay for fuel at the pump increase 35cpl, a jump of 17% in less than a year. Although fuel prices have already been widely discussed in the media, we wanted to unpack why we have experienced such an extreme rise in prices, and how it is impacting Kiwis around the country.

 

How the regional fuel tax has hit Auckland consumers


Posted on 11 September, under Monthly Reports, CommentaryRegions

This month we continue our look at the differences in spending between regions in the North Island. On 1 July Aucklanders started paying an extra 11.5 cents per litre for fuel, following the introduction of a new tax designed to boost funds for regional transport projects. We think it’s safe to say that wages haven’t risen to the same extent as costs, so meet the increase in cost money is moved from other parts of the household budget.

 

What a global trade war could mean for Kiwis?


Posted on 11 September, under Monthly Reports, Commentary,

This month has been dominated by talks that the White House is attempting to punish China for what it sees as unfair trade policies and manipulation of their currency to make their imports relatively cheaper than US-made goods in the American domestic market. Posturing between the US and China threatens to freeze trade and capital flows between two nations that make up a substantial percentage of the world’s trade volume. This could have major indirect impacts on local retailers and consumers alike.

 

City vs country divide


Posted on 11 September, under Commentary, Monthly Reports, Regions

This month we start a two-part series looking at changing patterns in how consumers from both islands are spending their hard-earned incomes. This month we look at how South Island consumers are splashing their cash, and how they are making decisions in the marketplace about how best to allocate their spending. as well as adapting to changing prices.

 

Changing takeaway supply fuelling high demand


Posted on 1 August, under Commentary,

This month, our analytics team has explored how the supply of takeaways from a constantly changing range of merchants is fuelling the Kiwi love for takeaways, and its exponential spending growth.

 

Quarterly Update – June 2018


Posted on 27 July, under Quarterly Summary,

The second quarter of 2018 saw spending continue on a similar trend to earlier in the year, up 2.2% on the same period in 2017 (excluding fuel). When including fuel, spending increased 3.0%. The volume of transactions increased 3.2% on the second quarter of 2017, when both including and excluding fuel from the results.

 

Mall expansions on the money


Posted on 17 July, under Monthly Reports,

As online shopping’s popularity continues to grow, the concept of a shopping mall seems to contradict everything consumers seek from online – limited hours, small range of shops, and difficult access through usually limited parking. However a number of shopping malls around the country see potential in the mall format, and are expanding their offering with multi-million dollar investments.

 

Retail activity flat in first quarter as economic growth slows


Posted on 17 July, under ,

News on the state of the New Zealand economy came out this month with the first quarter GDP statistics released. GDP for the quarter ending 31 March 2018 was announced at $270b, 0.5% above the last quarter, a solid but unspectacular level of growth.

 

Budget 2018: Provincial funding to benefit local retailers


Posted on 25 June, under Commentary,

May saw the 2018 Budget announced, the first for this Labour led government. We took a look at what this may mean for both the supply and demand side of consumer spending, as targeted funding pumps new money into the regions.

 

Unpacking our growing love for takeaways


Posted on 15 June, under Monthly Reports,

For a number of months, even years, takeaways have become a mainstay of the top growth categories in our weekly and monthly consumer spending report. What could have been a short term trend has turned into a long term expectation, as takeaways continue to beat their already high consumer spending results.

 

Interest rate rumors a flag for potential spending change


Posted on 14 May, under Commentary,

The economic news of the last month have been dominated by the first murmurings of action from global policy makers, which will lead to a higher interest rate environment for at least the next 3-5 years. Interest rates have a huge impact on the local consumer and their ability to spend – or rather their ability to use debt to supplement income and drive further spending.

 

Quiet school holiday period as people stay home


Posted on 14 May, under Monthly Reports,

The first term school holidays this year look to have been a relatively quiet affair, despite once again including more trading days than last year.

With the inclusion of ANZAC Day in the second week, how did Kiwis change their spending behaviour, holiday timing, and treat purchases?

 

Retailers must adapt, not run from online competitors


Posted on 3 May, under Commentary, Retail Trends.

This quarter our MD, Stephen Bridle, responds to the government’s recent announcement of the ‘Amazon Tax’, and what it will mean for the currently challenged retail environment.

Earlier this week the government announced its intention to collect GST on all goods purchased online from overseas merchants.  While praised by retailers and those in the industry, the general tenor of comments from readers of our online national press was anything but complimentary.  And if their feelings reflect the mood of New Zealand consumers, then collecting GST is going to do little to dissuade online purchasers.

 

Quarterly Update – March 2018


Posted on 18 April, under Quarterly SummarySeasonal Trends

The first quarter of the year has gotten off to a relatively healthy start for consumer spending, experiencing increases in both spending and transactions.

2018 has also so far seen the continuation of existing trends – booming takeaways and growing online spending – and the emergence of some new ones, as Kiwis increasingly chose ‘staycations’ over summer holidays..

 

Kiwis stock up for a long Easter weekend


Posted on 17 April, under Monthly Reports, Retail TrendsSeasonal Trends

Easter is traditionally a big long weekend for spending, as retailers and consumers alike take advantage of the opportunity for a sale. Incorporating two non-trading days (in most areas) also means the inevitable frenzy on supplies as Kiwis stock up for family road trips.

This month, we are only measuring spending over the first half of the weekend (Friday/Saturday), as well as the days leading up to the weekend, as Easter was split between March and April this year. Despite the smaller measured period, we still managed to see some strong spending growth in one of the longest national holiday periods.

 

Department stores not meeting all consumer demands


Posted on 16 March, under Monthly Reports, Retail Trends.

Since the beginning of 2017, we have seen overseas department stores facing a number of challenges. Early last year, well known U.S. department stores J.C. Penney, Sears and Macy’s all announced plans to close hundreds of stores. On top of closures, Macy’s has been expanding their discount format in place of full price offerings, and J.C. Penny has been liquidating assets. Closer to home, Australian department store Myer also closed multiple locations last year after lower than expected sales. After such a tough year for what used to be the overseas heavyweights of the department store format, should our local equivalents be worried?

 

Quiet end to the summer holidays


Posted on 14 February, under Monthly Reports, Seasonal Trends, Regions.

With Christmas and New Year out of the way, many Kiwis take the first week or two of January to enjoy the sunshine and head off on holiday. We wanted to take a look at where the top spots were around the country, and how Kiwis were spending their money on their summer roadies.

 

Flat white or fiction? How Millennials are really spending their money


Posted on 31 January, under InFocus, Retail Trends.

As of this year, the final wave of the Kiwi Millennial generation will be the first to qualify for a year of free tertiary education under the new Labour government. With the average student loan now $21,000, new tertiary students are cutting down a potentially huge financial burden, and adding to their weekly disposable income with a $50 boost to student allowances. With increased ability in the both the short and long term to exhibit the so-called ‘selfish’ spending habits of their generation, will these Millennials live up to their stereotype? Or is their spendthrift reputation based on fiction?