Disappointment for retailers this Christmas Eve - as shoppers appear to be feeling the pinch

Worldline data shows more than 563-thousand transactions went through at the peak hour between midday and 1pm - compared to more than 607-thousand last year.

This follows earlier figures showing spending last week was down annually - for core products like clothes and electronics.

Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young says November spending was up 1.6-percent - so indications this month is down are worrying.

She says December's a really critical sales period, so they were hoping November numbers would give them a good start.