-- Overall card spending fell 2.5% in April, but was up 4.4% compared with the same time last year, ANZ Research said in a note Tuesday.
Spending at fuel, charging, and service stations lifted 0.9% in April on top of a nearly 21% lift in March. Card spending at fuel stations rose 0.3% in April, once adjusted for typical seasonality.
Spending at car and truck dealerships fell 7.9% after the March spike in electric vehicle sales, but motorcycle and bike shops were up 0.8% and 1.9%, respectively.
Spending in the hospitality sector retreated 0.2% in the month. This followed a 2.7% fall in March. Apparel category spending fell a further 1.5% in April on top of a 2.5% decline in March.
A decline of 1.4% in spend in the grocery category is unusually large, the report noted.
Spending at second-hand good stores fell 3.3% on top of a 3.2% fall last month. The data showed an over 19% fall in spending at airlines and airports in April, and a more than 32% fall at tour and travel agencies.
Most services also saw reduced spending in April, including a 2.8% month-over-month fall in health and beauty services and a 1.9% fall in hairdressing. Public transport spending fell 7% after a sharp jump in March, but was up 5.7% year over year.