The key reason behind a rise in electronic card spending on consumer durable items like hardware, appliances and furniture during September is believed to be the effort of customers to beat the rise in GST from the start of October in New Zealand.

On Monday, figures published by Statistics New Zealand showed that there was a rise of 1.4 percent in using electronic cards, for purchasing items in core retail sales, buying consumer durables like hardware, appliances and furniture.

For all retail industries, the rise of electronic spending was 1.5 percent, while the average electronic card spending was up to one percent. From September 2003, the actual value of core retail transaction is up to 5.2 percent.

The retail sub-components of the data has shown that as the effort which is being made to beat the GST rise is becoming dominant, as per ANZ bank.

The bank said further that the customers are filling up the fuel before fuel excise takes effect and 7c rise from the higher GST, there is 2.9 percent rise in fuel spending.

They further said that given the aggressive retail discounting, the four percent increase in spending on durables. There is a healthy 1.1 percent monthly increase in consumables items like chemist, liquor and food sales.