A boost for the retail sector, as sales increase across the country

Stats NZ data shows the total volume of sales increased 0.9 percent in the December quarter - totalling more than 239-million-dollars.

Spending was up in 12 regions, with Hawke's Bay seeing the biggest jump at 3.2 percent, followed by Canterbury and Otago.

The growth was driven by pharmaceuticals, and other store-based retailers - as well as electronic goods and hardware supplies.