Figures released today by Paymark, which processes around 75% of all electronic transactions in New Zealand, show that Kiwis spent a total of just over $4.6 billion in December via Paymark's network, pushing the annual growth rate up slightly to 3.4 per cent.

New Zealanders and visitors to the country together spent more on their credit and debit cards again in October, Statistics NZ said today. The seasonally adjusted value of electronic card transactions rose 1.8 percent in October, the largest increase since January 2011.

By Frank and Muriel Newman

Food prices rose 2.0 percent in July 2011 and were up 7.9 percent on a year earlier, Statistics New Zealand said today. Vegetable prices rose 14.2 percent and accounted for more than half of the rise in July, mainly due to tomatoes and green vegetables.

The seasonally adjusted value of electronic card transactions in core retail (which excludes the motor vehicle related-industries) increased 0.5 percent in July 2011, Statistics New Zealand said today. Despite this increase, the value of total transactions was flat (up just 0.2 percent).

Soaring cost of living figures prove what a struggle it is for hard-working Kiwis to make ends meet, and dramatically expose the impact of National's broken promise on GST, says Labour Leader Phil Goff.

Gull has assured motorists that unlike other companies, it will hold its petrol prices for as long as possible. Despite the New Zealand dollar soaring to record levels, prices for regular petrol at some of Gull’s competitors have reached $2.089 per litre.

Rising food prices are continuing to hurt individuals and families, and Government policies are making the problem worse, the Green Party said today.

A huge increase in the price of fruit and vegetables, up 12.8 per cent in the year to May, won’t surprise struggling Kiwi families, and reinforces the need for Labour’s policy of removing all GST from fresh fruit and vegetables, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe.

The seasonally adjusted value of total electronic card transactions was flat (down just 0.1 percent) in May 2011 compared with April 2011, Statistics New Zealand said today. The value of transactions rose in five industry groups, but fell in three.