Retail spending is continuing to gradually recover

Latest figures from payment processor Worldline shows spending through core retail merchants last month, was up two-percent on August last year.

The growth is slow -- being driven by higher food prices and more spending outside the big cities.

But it's also steady -- this being the fifth consecutive month of growth.

Worldline says the thing to watch now is whether consumer demand picks up heading into the busier spring and summer spending periods.