Retail crime in New Zealand has been found to be costing the country $2.6 billion a year.

The staggering figure - up from $1.1 billion six years ago - has been revealed by Retail NZ this afternoon in its crime position statement. 

Its research has also found 92 percent of retailers have experienced some form of crime in their line of work in the past 12 months.

Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young spoke to Charlotte Cook.