FX.co ★ New Zealand Core Retail Sales Edge Higher, Signaling Resilient Consumer Demand

New Zealand’s core retail sales showed a modest improvement in the latest quarter, underscoring steady consumer demand despite a challenging global backdrop. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the core retail sales indicator rose to 1.5%, up from a previously recorded 1.2%, according to data updated on 22 February 2026.

The comparison is made between the current quarter and the previous quarter, with the earlier 1.2% figure reflecting growth between the prior two quarters. The acceleration to 1.5% suggests a slight strengthening in underlying retail activity, excluding volatile components, and may be interpreted by market participants as a sign of continued resilience in household spending. Investors and policymakers will be watching upcoming data to see whether this upward momentum in core retail sales can be sustained in the quarters ahead.