Auckland recorded the strongest consumer spending growth in two years, while modest gains persisted across other regions.
In February, consumer spending via core retail merchants on Worldline NZ’s payments network hit $3.686 billion—a 2.2% rise from February 2025.
The Auckland/Northland region led with a 2.8% year-on-year spending increase—the strongest single-month gain there in nearly two years.
“While the annual growth rate is relatively low and spending did not increase across all sectors and regions, it’s still heartening to see that total spending is up at this point of the year, and, most notably, up in New Zealand’s largest region,” Worldline NZ chief sales officer Bruce Proffit said.
“Noticeably so far this year, the South Island pattern remains similar, although Wellington spending is still below year-ago levels. Waikato remains one of the fastest-growth regions, and its spending level surpassed that of Wellington – not by much, but for the third month in a row.”
Core retail spending saw the strongest annual growth in Palmerston North (+4.5%), Otago (+3.8%), and Waikato (+3.7%), while the sharpest percentage drops hit Wairarapa (-2.3%) and Gisborne (-1.7%).
Worldline data shows spikes in flower and jewellery spending right before and on Valentine’s Day, though overall outlays fell from last year—likely due to wet weather cooling nationwide romantic retail fervour.
Spending at florists and watch/jewellery merchants on Worldline NZ’s network dropped over 14% year-on-year to $4.8 million across the two days ending February 14. Yet data shows Southland and Palmerston North residents still splashed out generously to mark the year’s Valentine’s Day.