Consumer spending processed through Worldline NZ’s payments network in March 2026 managed a slight increase over last year, but external pressures, including the Iran war and disruptive weather, highlight the ongoing challenges facing New Zealand businesses.
Core Retail merchants saw $3.968 billion in transactions through Worldline NZ during March, representing a modest +0.5% gain over March 2025 after adjustments for network changes. While growth remains positive, it is clear that global instability and local conditions are placing strain on consumer confidence and discretionary spending.
Worldline NZ’s Chief Sales Officer, Bruce Proffit, said that subdued spending growth for the month was probably due to the effect of the war in Iran on fuel prices, with wetter weather in some areas also playing a part.
“Spending growth was up +2.9% in the first weekend of March (28-Feb to 1-Mar), around the time of the initial attacks on Iran,” he says; “By the last weekend of March (28-29), spending at Core Retail merchants was barely +0.1% above year-ago levels.”
“Meanwhile, spending at fuel outlets in Worldline NZ’s network had risen over the month to be +33.0% above year-ago levels by the last weekend,” says Proffit.
Proffit observes that the slowdown in Core Retail spending at the end of the month likely reflects ongoing growth in Food and Liquor store sales, offset by weaker spending at Hospitality and other Core Retail merchants—patterns that suggest tight budgets are constraining discretionary purchases.
“Adding to regional challenges towards the end of the month was heavy rainfall, reducing spending in regions such as Auckland/Northland, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.”
Monthly regional figures show that annual Core Retail spending through Worldline NZ’s payments network in March 2026 was strongest in Palmerston North (+4.8%), Nelson (+4.2%), and the West Coast (+3.0%), while the largest year-on-year declines were recorded in Wairarapa (-2.0%) and Gisborne (-1.7%).