Electronic card spending fell 0.8 percent in July 2012, when adjusted for seasonal effects, Statistics New Zealand said today.

"Falls in all of the core retail industries drove the overall decrease in spending," industry and labour statistics manager Blair Cardno said.

Total core retail spending fell 1.5 percent, reversing the 1.4 percent increase in June.

Total retail spending also fell (0.6 percent), despite increases in spending in the vehicle-related industries.

The trends for the core retail, total retail, and total series continue to increase, but the rates of increase are weakening.