Bargains galore

[MotherBear]

Good news if you're immigrating soon and need to restock.

Canny customers bring home the bargains from retailers
Page 1 of 2 .... 5:00AM Sunday July 13, 2008
By Alice Hudson


Joseph Eparaina was one of five customers to buy an LCD TV for just $1. Photo / Michael Craig

Shoppers are primed to profit from the recession, with commentators expecting consumers to bag big bargains, especially if they haggle.

There are savings to be had in almost all sectors, say experts, except the necessities of petrol and food.

ANZ economist Khoon Goh has predicted savings across the board but particularly in "durables such as cars, fridges and other whiteware, where sales have fallen particularly sharply".

He said consumers with cash would make the most of the tight economy, with retailers more willing than ever to move on prices.

Those opting for hire purchase could expect longer interest-free periods, but Goh urged them to check the interest rate they would pay when the free period ran out.

More here.

[nickydwuk]

Sounds good to me

[MotherBear]

Sounds like you could be in for some good deals all round.

Big plunge in car sales
11:00AM Monday July 14, 2008

A 15 per cent drop in motor vehicle sales is the principal factor behind a 1.2 per cent fall in total retail sales for the month of May.

This drop followed a 1.2 per cent rise in April, Statistics New Zealand said today.

The decrease was led by a slump in the motor vehicle retailing industry, down 14.8 per cent ($102 million).

However, core retail sales (which excludes the vehicle-related industries) remained about static, rising a minuscule 0.7 per cent ($27 million).

Following the motor vehicle retailing fall was furniture and floor coverings, down 15.6 per cent ($21 million) in May 2008 after a rise of 8.4 per cent in April 2008.

Of the industries that had the largest sales increases, supermarket and grocery stores rose 3.0 per cent ($35 million), followed by automotive fuel retailing, up 3.2 per cent ($19 million).

Fourteen of the 24 industries had modest sales movements, not increasing or decreasing more than $3 million.

The total retail sales trend has flattened since December 2007.

Among the regions, the largest decrease in May 2008 was recorded for Canterbury, down 3.5 per cent ($26 million); followed by Auckland, down 1.4 per cent ($24 million); and the Waikato, down 2.8 per cent ($14 million).

- NZHERALD STAFF

From here.