28 Dec 2011

Boxing Day shoppers on spending spree

10:09 am on 28 December 2011

Boxing Day shoppers went on a spending spree in most regions this year.

Credit card and eftpos transactions increased 6.9%, according to eftpos provider Paymark, with spending rising to $105.8 million.

That compares to $98.9 million on Boxing Day in 2010.

The figure from the country's main electronic transaction provider accounts for half of all spending on Boxing Day. It excludes cash, gift vouchers and electronic transactions using software from competing providers.

Clothing and building stores experienced the greatest increase, Paymark said.

Otago shoppers had the largest rise in terms of money spent. Last year those in the region spent $5.5 million while this Boxing Day they spent $6.2 million - a rise of 12.3%.

The biggest spending was in Auckland, with shoppers there spending a total of $43.5 million.

The only region where less money changed hands on Monday was Gisborne. Spending there dropped by more than 4.3% compared to last Boxing Day.