Kiwis preferred to spend their cash on food, rather than goods, in the lead-up to Christmas

New Wordline data shows payments last December reached over 4.7-billion dollars - down 0.2-percent on the previous year.

Spending at food and liquor merchants rose 4-percent, while core merchants saw a 4.4-percent drop.

Chief Sales Officer Bruce Proffit says the immediate days before Christmas were busiest for food and liquor stores, while hospitality merchants continued to see the most activity on Saturdays.

Boxing Day sales were on the quiet side, while online spending rose 18.9 percent that month.