32 reserve bank of new zealand bulletin vol 68 no 2 this article provides an overview the retail sector over past ve years strong sales growth across all store types has been a key feature period scale also expanding with signi cant increase in number stores and tendency toward larger sizes as operators seek competitive advantages increased buying power other economies low price ation particularly for that sell imported goods another or negative driven by rising dollar fall world prices manufactured consumption productivity within appears to have lower than parts economy but may be increasing time pro t margins lifted slightly appear constrained competition further increases capacity 1 introduction is important part acting channel
