According to new data, retail cart spending on non-essential items has gone up again this year.

Stats NZ says that electronic card spending climbed an extra $88 million, across categories like appliances, furniture, liquor, and apparel.

Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen explained that this data is surprising, because it indicates that higher interest rates haven't hit yet.

Brad Olsen suggests that people may need to be cautious in the future, but it's surprising that it hasn't hit Kiwi households at this point.

LISTEN ABOVE

• Electronic spending up but online stores still strong competition
• Kiwis still spending up, new data shows
• Latest ANZ-Roy Morgan numbers show consumer confidence low, but households spending