New Zealand’s credit card spending surged in September 2026, with annual growth accelerating to 6.9% year-over-year, up sharply from 3.6% in August 2026. The latest figures, updated on 21 October 2026, highlight a marked strengthening in consumer outlays compared with the same month a year earlier.
The data are based on a year-over-year comparison, meaning September’s 6.9% reading reflects how much credit card spending increased relative to September of the previous year, while August’s 3.6% figure measures the change versus August a year earlier. The near-doubling in the growth rate between August and September points to a notable pickup in consumer activity across the New Zealand economy.