Retailers are hoping for another sales surge - to keep this season's early momentum moving

Shopping malls and small holiday destination stores are preparing for hoards of shoppers - with Boxing Day sales continuing this weekend.

Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young says the volume of sales has been fairly steady - and not much different from last year.

She says a lot of stores started their promotions early - which could have stolen transactions that could have come later in the month.

Young says this can boost sales the last week of Christmas - but impact what you see at the end of December.