Covid-19 hasn't been the only force affecting the retail sector

Overall, sales are improving - up 19.6 percent last month compared to last year.

Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford says maintaining staff levels has been challenging for businesses.

He says with the minimum wage going up a dollar twenty in April, nearly a quarter of retailers cut their staff numbers.

He says it's had huge impacts into the retail market, where margins are low at the best of times.