This move is expected to deliver significant savings for small and medium enterprises across the country, particularly those in the retail and hospitality sectors. Interchange fees are a key cost for businesses when processing card transactions, especially for credit and international cards. These charges are often passed on to consumers…

A deeper problem lies beneath the surface, many New Zealanders are no longer able to find full-time work and are instead patching together multiple part-time roles to stay afloat. In the March quarter, full-time employment dropped by 45,000 positions, while part-time jobs saw an increase of 25,000 compared to the…

The agreement boosted international equity markets, with the S&P 500 reaching a fresh record high. While the optimism was most pronounced in the US and Europe, ripple effects were felt across financial markets.  The US-Vietnam agreement is a strategic move ahead of a looming July deadline for reciprocal trade tariffs.…

ASB now believes just one more cut will bring the OCR to its floor of 3.00 per cent, marking the end of the current easing cycle. Since August last year, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has reduced the OCR from a peak of 5.5 per cent to its…

Prices in the mid-2030s are expected to be around 20 per cent lower than their 2021 peak when adjusted for inflation. This outlook, provided by economic consultancy Infometrics, suggests a slow recovery from the market highs reached during the pandemic housing boom. While nominal house prices are tipped to edge…

The increase, which comes courtesy of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, follows a combination of regulatory changes and broader pressures on the energy market. The April review of electricity pricing marked a significant turning point. Companies were permitted to raise their charges, which added an estimated $10 to…

With global trade teetering on uncertainty, Kiwi exporters are bracing for impact. However, some businesses see opportunity in the disruption. According to research commissioned by ASB Bank, two-thirds of New Zealand business leaders believe US-imposed tariffs will cause greater global disruption than recent historic economic crises. The sentiment is even…

The stakes are high for many businesses, and there is growing pressure for the Bank to act decisively. Calls are intensifying for a substantial 50 basis point cut rather than another cautious move. At the heart of this push lies frustration among business leaders who argue that monetary easing should…

This rebound follows stronger-than-expected economic data and a partial retreat in US-China trade tensions. In the United States, manufacturing and services data for May have both surpassed expectations. The composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 52.1 from 50.6 in April, pointing to a continued expansion in economic activity. These…

Food prices rose significantly while energy costs and airfares also surged. These figures indicate growing inflationary pressure across several key sectors. Food prices jumped by 0.8 per cent in April alone, pushing the annual food inflation rate to 3.7 per cent. This surge was largely driven by increases in the…