Tag: Inflation

NZ Q2 Business Confidence Rises Slightly

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The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) has released the findings of its quarterly survey that indicate the country’s business confidence improved slightly in June despite the economy still being in recessionary territory. Based on seasonally adjusted figures, 59% of surveyed firms expect the economic conditions to deteriorate, down…

Growing Concern Over Rising Financial Services Complaints

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As economic pressures grow on consumers, there has been an increase in the number of financial services complaints. Financial Ombudsman, Susan Taylor, reported that there was a 17.5% surge in complaints lodged in the six months leading to December 2022. She noted that issues like higher interest rates and the…

Demand for Consumer Loans on The Rise

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With inflation and interest rates on the rise, it comes as no surprise that more people are struggling to manage tighter household budgets. According to a new Credit Indicator report released by credit bureau Centrix, consumer arrears rose by 5% in October as compared to a year before. There was…

Commerce Commission Urges Comparison Shopping

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The Commerce Commission is advising motorists to take more time to shop around for the lowest prices on fuel in their local areas. Commissioner John Small said that this would help drive healthy competition with time and was a key factor in exerting downward pressure on pricing at the pump.…

NZ Dodges Recession with Strong Economic Growth

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The New Zealand economy grew by 1.7% during the June quarter, confirming that the country has managed to defy the odds and not go into a recession. This has been a positive result following a poor showing in the March quarter that saw the economy decline by 0.2%. Financial experts…

Tax Break for Long-Term Rental Investors

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Housing minister, Megan Woods, has announced a change in rental housing policy that will allow landlords to enjoy tax breaks if they meet a certain criterion designed to promote access to affordable long-term rentals for kiwis. Landlords that own 20-plus units in one development and that offer tenancy agreements of…

Kiwis Investing More Despite Volatile Economic Times

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In a new report from the Financial Services Council (FSC) titled “Money and You: Investing in Volatile Times”, it has been found that there is a growing number of New Zealanders that are choosing to invest in financial products. About 4 in 5 Kiwis were found to be doing so,…

Small Business Wage Increases Match Inflation

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According to the Small Business Index report generated by online accounting software firm Xero, small businesses have increased wages by 6.8% annually. This comes close to matching the year-on-year annual inflation rate recorded in June of 7.3%. The wage hike is the highest since the series began in January 2017,…

Government Resists Calls for Sugar Tax

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According to recently published research from a World Health Organisation (WHO) funded study conducted across a dozen countries and several US states, taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages do work on reducing the demand for said beverages by causing their prices to increase. The research reviewed 86 studies that found that with…

Kiwi Retailer Set to Freeze Commodity Prices for Winter

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One of the country’s biggest supermarket chains, Countdown, has announced plans to temporarily freeze retail prices on 500 retail items for the duration of winter. They have assured that the freeze will hold no matter the changes to inflation rates during this period. This move, it has been said, is…