Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): New Zealanders continue to show confidence in the economy. Statistics New Zealand reported today that card transactions rose 0.9 percent in July compared with the previous month. Retail card spending, which makes up three-quarters of total card transactions, rose 0.6 percent as New Zealanders spent more on groceries, alcohol, and specialised food. Kiwis also spent more on clothing, shoes, jewellery, and watches. In their commentary, Westpac's economists had expected to see a small decline due to the suspension of travel with Australia. However, it turns out, to quote them, that "New Zealand households are hitting the town and spending up." The report also shows a dampening in spending in the hospitality sector, which Westpac attributes to a lack of international tourists, indicating, as we have noted several times in this House, the economic environment remains uneven for some sectors and regions.