Retail spending in the Christchurch CBD is up, with food and drink making up over half the $210.5 million spent in the year to October, according to economic development agency ChristchurchNZ.
The total is a 33 per cent rise from $158.5 million last year, Stuff reports.
Card retail spending on clothing, footwear and places such as chemists in the city centre rose by 43 per cent, up from $35.1 million in the year to October 2017.
Food and drink made up the greatest proportion of spending in the year to October, with $121.7 million spent, up 23 per cent from $99 million last year.
The opening of retail precinct The Crossing last September contributed to the spending growth, which saw a 56 per cent growth from the same month last year.
The recent rise is expected to be a timely boost for the city’s retailers in the lead up to the Christmas holidays.
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