Tourists' spending in Orange up by 10 per cent, our online spend down

Economic information compiled for Orange City Council by bank transaction analysts Spendmapp shows visitors spent $33.3 million in February.

That was up by 10.67 per cent on the previous year, which was before the COVID-19 lockdown shut tourists out of the city.

"The 10.67 per cent increase in visitor local spend suggests a relatively healthy growth in visitor economy activity," a staff report to council said.

The figures also showed the amount spent by residents locally was $49.4 million which was slightly up on the previous February.

It means the total amount spent in Orange, by visitors and locals, was $82.6 million which is up by 4.63 per cent on the previous year.

Spendmapp's research showed the extent of how Orange was hit by the COVID-19 restrictions last year.

In March last year the total expenditure in the city slumped to about $64 million.

The figures also showed Orange residents spent slightly less on online purchases in February 2021 compared to the previous year.

Online buying accounted for $23.9 million in February, 1.16 per cent down on the previous year.

It followed an online buying frenzy in December, for Christmas, where Orange residents spent about $29 million.

The research showed that groceries remained our top purchase with supermarkets and grocery stores receiving about $19 million in Orange in February.

Our next biggest purchase was dining and entertainment which accounted for about $12.5 million.

Department stores and clothing purchases accounted for $9 million in Orange while transport and professional services each received about $8 million in February.

The economic indicators also covered the state of employment in Orange.

It found the latest figures, from the September 2020 quarter, showed the unemployment rate in Orange was 4.3 per cent.

This compared to a combined rate of 3.8 per cent for the Orange, Cabonne and Blayney council areas.

Both were well below the rate of 6.7 per cent for all of NSW and 6.9 per cent for Australia.

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