New Zealand Retail Spending Beats Estimates as Economy Recovers

New Zealand retail sales increased more than economists expected in the fourth quarter, suggesting the economic recovery maintained its momentum in the final months of 2025.

Sales adjusted for inflation rose 0.9% from the prior three months, when they surged 1.9%, Statistics New Zealand said Monday in Wellington. Economists estimated the gauge — a measure of sales volumes — would rise 0.6%. On a per-capita basis, sales are the highest since the second quarter of 2023.