Electronic Card Transactions: August 2009

Transcription

1 Embargoed until 10:45am 09 September 2009 Electronic Card Transactions: August 2009 Key facts These statistics are based on electronic card transactions during August Figures are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise stated. See the technical notes for industry descriptors. Changes in the value of transactions (compared with July 2009) were as follows: Total electronic card transactions were up slightly (0.3 percent). The retail industries were flat (up 0.2 percent). The core retail industries were flat (up 0.1 percent). By industry group, non-retail increased; automotive fuel retailing was up slightly and the core retail groups were flat or slightly down. The actual (not seasonally adjusted) value of transactions in core retail was up 1.4 percent from August Electronic card transactions in core retail (which excludes the motor vehicle-related industries) remained flat in August 2009, up just 0.1 percent compared with July This follows a 1.1 percent increase in July. In August 2009, the core retail industry groups were all flat or slightly down. Transactions in the retail industries were also flat (up just 0.2 percent) with a small increase in automotive fuel retailing. There was a slight rise in total electronic card transactions (up 0.3 percent), mainly due to an increase in the non-retail group. Trends for the value of transactions in the total, retail, and core retail series have all been increasing since January Latest figures indicate that the growth rate for the retail series has flattened, while for core retail the growth rate has slowed. Annual credit card transactions as a proportion of the total transaction value continues to decline (with a corresponding increase in debit card use). Credit card use accounted for 44.8 percent of transactions in the year to August 2009, the 11th consecutive month to show a decrease. The total number of transactions for the year to August 2009 was 1,064 million compared with 1,009 million for the year to August The average transaction value for the year to August 2009 was $53 compared with $55 for the year to August Geoff Bascand 9 September 2009 Government Statistician ISSN

2 Related information Latest seasonally adjusted movements in the Retail Trade Survey compared with ECT data, as first published: retail trade sales increased 0.1 percent in June 2009 retail ECT series decreased 1.0 percent in June 2009 core retail trade sales decreased 0.4 percent in June 2009 core retail ECT series decreased 1.2 percent in June Latest movement in the Food Price Index: the Food Price Index rose 0.6 percent in July Latest movement in the Consumers Price Index: the Consumers Price Index rose 0.6 percent in the June 2009 quarter. Latest movement in credit card billings, as issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand: credit card billings decreased 3.0 percent in July 2009 compared with July Previous releases of Electronic Card Transactions data are available on the Statistics NZ website ( For technical enquiries, contact: Clara Eatherley or Ken Smart Christchurch Next release... Electronic Card Transactions: September 2009 will be released on 9 October

3 Technical notes Background The Electronic Card Transaction (ECT) series is an experimental monthly series, which covers all debit and credit card spending with New Zealand-based merchants. This information can be used as an indicator of the change in the level of consumption expenditure and economic activity in general. Statistics on electronic card transactions are produced from aggregated administrative data generated in the process of administering New Zealand-based electronic transactions. The data are supplied in a highly aggregated form and are inclusive of goods and services tax (GST). Statistics New Zealand would like to acknowledge the cooperation of the private sector in providing the data for publication, supporting the delivery of new statistics without significant additional burden on businesses in New Zealand. Coverage Inclusions: all debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants card-present transactions at the point of sale, whether authorised by PIN or signature card-not-present transactions (for example payments of invoices, mail order, telephone, and Internet sales via credit card or direct debit from credit cards) where the card is not presented directly at a point-of-sale terminal GST. Exclusions: all credit card transactions with non-new Zealand-based merchants, for example via the Internet, telephone, mail order transactions by New Zealand card holders while overseas cash, cheque, or hire purchase transactions automatic payments or direct debits from bank accounts Internet bank account payments withdrawals from ATMs. Notes: Cash out is included in the data from one of the respondent companies, but excluded by the other. Manual, voucher-based credit card transactions are included by one of the respondents, but excluded by the other. 3

4 Published levels Data are published at three levels of aggregation. These are: 1. Electronic card transactions total Includes data for all industry classes; a census of all electronic transactions. 2. Electronic card transactions retail industry A subset of total electronic card transactions covering the following ANZSIC industries: retail trade (ANZSIC division G), accommodation, cafes and restaurants (ANZSIC division H), and personal services (ANZSIC subdivision 95 of division Q). 3. Electronic card transactions core retail industry A subset of retail electronic card transactions, excluding the motor vehicle-related industries (ANZSIC groups G531 motor vehicle retailing and G532 motor vehicle services), which, apart from automotive fuel retailing, generally have low rates of electronic transactions. The following series are published for each of the aggregations: values actual (unadjusted), seasonally adjusted, and trend volumes actual (unadjusted). Seasonal patterns The three unadjusted series (for total, retail, and core retail electronic card transactions) have similar seasonal patterns, peaking in December each year. The three ECT series for the number of total, retail, and core retail electronic card transactions have similar patterns to those for the transaction values, peaking each December. 4

5 Impact of electronic card transaction processing outages Occasionally, processing outages prevent customers from being able to make transactions at the point of sale. Where these are significant in extent and duration, they can affect the published results for the ECT series. The last significant outage occurred in December The impact of this is particularly visible in the seasonally adjusted decreases in the ECT series for December Differences between the ECT series and the Retail Trade Survey A significant proportion of spending using debit and credit cards takes place in the retail sector. The Retail Trade Survey (RTS) also collects sales information about the retail sector from a monthly sample of retail establishments. Given the similarities in coverage of the two series, it is expected that they may be compared with each other. However, users should be aware that there are a number of differences between the two series that affect comparison between them. These differences are described below. Coverage The RTS includes payments made by cash, cheque, and hire purchase, in addition to electronic card Coverage Differences between the Electronic Card Transactions Series and the Retail Trade Survey Cash sale Credit sale Electronic Card Transactions Debit card Credit card Charge card Retail Trade Survey Debit card Cash Cheque Credit card Charge card Hire purchase 5

6 GST Electronic card transaction data collected include GST, whereas the RTS collects sales excluding GST. As GST is not separately identified in the data any attempts to adjust the ECT series for GST are approximations only. Timing issues Electronic transactions occur instantly at the point of sale, whereas many retailers operate on an accrual accounting basis (recording a sale before any money has changed hands). Instalments on lay-bys may be paid electronically but are not recorded as a sale by the retailer until the goods are picked up. Gift vouchers may be purchased electronically but are not recorded as a sale until they are redeemed. Classification issues Statistics NZ has developed ECT series that relate to the industry coverage of the RTS. This has been done by matching the industry codes supplied by the respondents to classifications used by Statistics NZ. There are instances where the classification allocations used by the respondents differ from those used by Statistics NZ. This results in some coverage differences at the industry and overall retail level, and potentially some overstatement of the ECT retail industry levels. The impact of this on ECT retail data levels cannot be fully assessed, as source data are only supplied in aggregate form, but retail levels are estimated to be overstated by less than 5 percent. Changes in share of spending by electronic card transactions Over the past few years, the uptake of electronic transaction technology among retailers and increasing card usage by consumers have led to an increasing share of retail sales by electronic transactions, resulting in the ECT series having a much steeper trend than the RTS. This increase in share is slowing over time, particularly in industries where the availability of the technology is approaching full coverage. However, it is still impacting on the movements in electronic card transactions. Users should be aware that movements in electronic card transactions are overstated by this increasing share when comparing the ECT series with the RTS. Differences observed in data series Statistics NZ has performed an analysis of the ECT series compared with the RTS. The results indicate the following: Month-on-month movements in the actual (unadjusted) values of electronic card transactions provide a good indication of the direction of the RTS actuals, as the two series usually move in the same direction. Monthly movements in ECT actuals are frequently different in magnitude compared with movements in RTS actuals. 6

7 The differences found in the actuals data flow through to comparisons of the ECT and RTS seasonally adjusted series, which can differ in the direction and size of monthly movement. These differences have generally been outside the acceptable tolerances indicated by users for the use of the ECT series as a predictor of movements in the RTS. Given these differences, Statistics NZ does not recommend using the ECT series as an indicator or predictor of the RTS series. Industry group descriptions The eight aggregated industry groups commonly referred to in the ECT release text are described in the table below. Aggregated Industry Groups in ECT Releases Industry group Descriptor Consumables Includes food, liquor, and chemist retailing Durables Includes furniture, hardware, and appliance retailing Hospitality Accommodation, bars, cafes, and restaurants Apparel Clothing, soft-goods, and footwear retailing Services Personal and household services, including hire and repair Motor vehicles Retail, repair, and other services Fuel Automotive fuel retailing Non-retail Includes services such as travel and health, and wholesaling Electronic card transactions share of spending The share of electronic card transactions in the retail industries has been slowly increasing over time. The mean share of the retail spending (excluding GST) for the year ended June 2009 was estimated as 60.8 percent compared with 58.8 percent for the year ended June

8 The electronic card transactions share of retail spending varies significantly between individual retail industries. For example, the share is higher than average in industries such as automotive fuel retailing, footwear retailing, supermarket and grocery stores, clothing and softgoods, and department stores. It is much lower than average in industries such as automotive repair and motor vehicle retailing. Privacy, security, and confidentiality Privacy, security, and confidentiality are critical to people and businesses, and the Statistics Act 1975 protects the information provided. No information is released from these data that would allow the identification of any individual or merchant. Definitions ANZSIC Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification. Average transaction value The total value of transactions divided by the total number of transactions. Average value of transactions per person The total value of transactions divided by the sum of the average resident population and the average number of overseas visitors to New Zealand for the reference year. 8

9 Average number of transactions per person The total number of transactions divided by the sum of the average resident population and the average number of overseas visitors to New Zealand for the reference year. Card-not-present transactions Purchases made using a credit card, via telephone, mail order, Internet, or credit card direct debit where the card is not present for the transaction. Cash out Cash taken out at a point-of-sale terminal, with or without a purchase. Debit card Card used for debiting money directly from a bank account. Also commonly referred to as eftpos, cash, or ATM card. Debit transactions Where the purchaser uses the cheque or savings buttons on the point-of-sale terminal. Eftpos Electronic funds transfer at point of sale. Share of spending by electronic card transactions The share of spending by electronic card transactions is the proportion of total spending that debit and credit card spending makes up. This figure can be approximated by dividing the value of retail electronic card transactions excluding GST by total retail sales, as estimated from the RTS. Seasonally adjusted series The X-12-ARIMA package has been used to produce the seasonally adjusted estimates and trend estimates for the three series: total, retail, and core retail ECT. Seasonal adjustment aims to eliminate the impact of regular seasonal events (such as annual cycles in agricultural production, winter, or annual holidays) on time series. This makes the data for adjacent months more comparable. All seasonally adjusted figures are subject to revision each month. This enables the seasonal component to be better estimated and removed from the series. Estimated trend For any series, the survey estimates can be broken down into three components: trend, seasonal, and irregular. While seasonally adjusted series have had the seasonal component removed, trend series have had both the seasonal and the irregular 9

10 components removed. Trend estimates reveal the underlying direction of movement in a series, and are likely to indicate turning points more accurately than are seasonally adjusted estimates. The trend series are calculated using the X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment package. They are based on an 11-, 13-, or 23-month moving average of the seasonally adjusted series, with an adjustment for outlying values. Trend estimates towards the end of the series incorporate new data as they become available and can therefore change as more observations are added to the series. Revisions can be particularly large if an observation is treated as an outlier in one month, but is found to be part of the underlying trend as further observations are added to the series. Typically, only the estimates for the most recent month will be subject to substantial revisions. More information For more information, follow the link from the technical notes of this release on the Statistics NZ website. Copyright Information obtained from Statistics NZ may be freely used, reproduced, or quoted unless otherwise specified. In all cases Statistics NZ must be acknowledged as the source. Liability While care has been used in processing, analysing and extracting information, Statistics NZ gives no warranty that the information supplied is free from error. Statistics NZ shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of any information, product or service. Timing Timed statistical releases are delivered using postal and electronic services provided by third parties. Delivery of these releases may be delayed by circumstances outside the control of Statistics NZ. Statistics NZ accepts no responsibility for any such delays. 10

11 Tables The following tables are printed with this Hot Off The Press release and can be downloaded from the Statistics New Zealand website in Excel format. If you do not have access to Excel, you may use the Excel file viewer to view, print and export the contents of the file. 1. Electronic card transactions total value 2. Electronic card transactions retail industry values 3. Electronic card transactions core retail industry values 4. Electronic card transactions number of transactions 5. Electronic card transactions means and proportions Series available online The full time series for Electronic Card Transactions can be accessed free of charge from the online Infoshare database, available at To access, click on Browse, then choose: Subject category: Economic indicators, then choose: Electronic Card Transactions. The time series can be downloaded in Excel or comma delimited format. More information about Infoshare can be found on our website at 11

12 Electronic Card Transactions: August 2009 Table 1 Electronic Card Transactions Total Value (1) Unadjusted values Seasonally adjusted (2) previous Trend (2) month (3) previous month (3) Series ref: ETD S19A9 S19S9 S19T9 $(million) Percent $(million) Percent Month 2005 May 3,543 3, , Jun 3,479 3, , Jul 3,696 3, , Aug 3,662 3, , Sep 3,647 3, , Oct 3,788 3, , Nov 3,942 3, , Dec 4,715 3, , Jan 3,792 3, , Feb 3,699 3, , Mar 4,152 3, , Apr 3,861 4, , May 4,004 4, , Jun 3,861 4, , Jul 4,011 4, , Aug 4,036 4, , Sep 3,955 4, , Oct 4,117 4, , Nov 4,337 4, , Dec 5,197 4, , Jan 4,191 4, , Feb 4,084 4, , Mar 4,552 4, , Apr 4,191 4, , May 4,339 4, , Jun 4,180 4, , Jul 4,322 4, , Aug 4,399 4, , Sep 4,282 4, , Oct 4,494 4, , Nov 4,773 4, , Dec 5,586 4, , Jan 4,561 4, , Feb 4,547 4, , Mar 4,720 4, , Apr 4,505 4, , May 4,682 4, , Jun 4,310 4, , Jul 4,635 4, , Aug 4,603 4, , Sep 4,522 4, , Oct 4,795 4, , Nov 4,764 4, , Dec 5,642 4, , Jan 4,619 4, , Feb 4,419 4, , Mar 4,780 4, , Apr 4,571 4, , May 4,678 4, , Jun 4,395 4, , Jul 4,734 4, , Aug 4,644 4, , (1) Figures are inclusive of GST. (2) Figures are subject to revision when the seasonal adjustment program is run each period. (3) Percentage changes are calculated on unrounded numbers. Published by Statistics New Zealand

13 Electronic Card Transactions: August 2009 Table 2 Electronic Card Transactions Retail Industry Values (1)(2) Unadjusted values Seasonally adjusted (3) previous Trend (3) month (4) previous month (4) Series ref: ETD S19A1 S19S1 S19T1 $(million) Percent $(million) Percent Month 2005 May 2,819 2, , Jun 2,769 2, , Jul 2,949 3, , Aug 2,869 3, , Sep 2,911 3, , Oct 3,082 3, , Nov 3,151 3, , Dec 3,915 3, , Jan 3,065 3, , Feb 2,911 3, , Mar 3,253 3, , Apr 3,126 3, , May 3,166 3, , Jun 3,083 3, , Jul 3,189 3, , Aug 3,162 3, , Sep 3,157 3, , Oct 3,312 3, , Nov 3,437 3, , Dec 4,316 3, , Jan 3,343 3, , Feb 3,193 3, , Mar 3,568 3, , Apr 3,359 3, , May 3,394 3, , Jun 3,317 3, , Jul 3,385 3, , Aug 3,420 3, , Sep 3,413 3, , Oct 3,566 3, , Nov 3,780 3, , Dec 4,629 3, , Jan 3,633 3, , Feb 3,536 3, , Mar 3,726 3, , Apr 3,562 3, , May 3,688 3, , Jun 3,402 3, , Jul 3,631 3, , Aug 3,621 3, , Sep 3,548 3, , Oct 3,801 3, , Nov 3,788 3, , Dec 4,635 3, , Jan 3,677 3, , Feb 3,413 3, , Mar 3,715 3, , Apr 3,605 3, , May 3,671 3, , Jun 3,414 3, , Jul 3,637 3, , Aug 3,574 3, , (1) Figures are inclusive of GST. (2) Represents all electronic transactions for ANZSIC industries G, H and Q (subdivision 95). (3) Figures are subject to revision when the seasonal adjustment program is run each period. (4) Percentage changes are calculated on unrounded numbers. Published by Statistics New Zealand

14 Electronic Card Transactions: August 2009 Table 3 Electronic Card Transactions Core Retail Industry Values (1)(2) Unadjusted values Seasonally adjusted (3) previous Trend (3) month (4) previous month (4) Series ref: ETD S19A2 S19S2 S19T2 $(million) Percent $(million) Percent Month 2005 May 2,373 2, , Jun 2,322 2, , Jul 2,469 2, , Aug 2,374 2, , Sep 2,416 2, , Oct 2,579 2, , Nov 2,649 2, , Dec 3,404 2, , Jan 2,564 2, , Feb 2,410 2, , Mar 2,679 2, , Apr 2,591 2, , May 2,588 2, , Jun 2,524 2, , Jul 2,611 2, , Aug 2,577 2, , Sep 2,619 2, , Oct 2,784 2, , Nov 2,898 2, , Dec 3,750 2, , Jan 2,812 2, , Feb 2,673 2, , Mar 2,967 2, , Apr 2,817 2, , May 2,814 2, , Jun 2,770 2, , Jul 2,817 2, , Aug 2,839 2, , Sep 2,838 3, , Oct 2,962 2, , Nov 3,134 3, , Dec 3,972 3, , Jan 2,990 3, , Feb 2,908 3, , Mar 3,050 3, , Apr 2,904 3, , May 2,981 3, , Jun 2,730 3, , Jul 2,904 3, , Aug 2,927 3, , Sep 2,866 3, , Oct 3,118 3, , Nov 3,177 3, , Dec 4,022 3, , Jan 3,102 3, , Feb 2,831 3, , Mar 3,084 3, , Apr 3,015 3, , May 3,074 3, , Jun 2,828 3, , Jul 3,022 3, , Aug 2,968 3, , (1) Figures are inclusive of GST. (2) Represents all electronic transactions for ANZSIC industries G, H and Q (subdivision 95), excluding the motor vehicle-related industries. (3) Figures are subject to revision when the seasonal adjustment program is run each period. (4) Percentage changes are calculated on unrounded numbers. Published by Statistics New Zealand

15 Electronic Card Transactions: August 2009 Table 4 Electronic Card Transactions Number of Transactions Unadjusted total number of transactions same month previous year (1) Unadjusted retail industry number of transactions same month previous year (1) Unadjusted core retail industry number of transactions same month previous year (1) Series ref: ETD S29A9 S29A1 S29A2 Number (million) Percent Number (million) Percent Number (million) Percent Month 2005 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug (1) Percentage changes are calculated on unrounded numbers. Published by Statistics New Zealand

16 Electronic Card Transactions: August 2009 Table 5 Mean transaction value Electronic Card Transactions Means and Proportions Mean value of transactions per person (1)(2) Mean number of transactions per person (1)(2) Debit proportion of total Credit proportion of total ECT retail proportion of RTS total (2)(3) ECT core proportion of RTS core (2)(3) Series ref: ETD S4A1V S4A2V S4A3N S4AXP S4AWP S4ARP S4ACP $ Number Percent Year ended March , , , , , Quarter 2005 Sep 54 2, Dec 56 2, Mar 56 2, Jun 55 2, Sep 55 2, Dec 57 3, Mar 56 2, Jun 54 2, Sep 54 2, Dec 56 3, Mar 55 3, Jun 54 3, Sep 54 3, Dec 55 3, Mar 53 3, Jun 52 3, Month 2007 Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug (1) Population estimates are only published quarterly monthly figures are not available. (2) Latest period information has not yet been published. (3) Figures are calculated from published figures ECT includes GST, RTS excludes GST Note: RTS Retail Trade Survey Symbol:.. figure not available Published by Statistics New Zealand