New Zealand consumer confidence rose in the first three months of the year, as Kiwis enjoyed cheaper fuel prices and lower fixed home-loan rates, and became more upbeat about the near-term outlook for the economy. The Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index rose to 117.4 in the latest survey from 114.8 three months earlier. The present conditions index gained 1.8 points to …
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NZ consumer confidence edges up in March, boding well for economic growth
New Zealand consumer confidence edged up in March with both current and future measures increasing. The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index rose to 124.6 in March from 124 in February. The current conditions index advanced to 123.7 from 123, while the future conditions index gained to 125.3 from 124.6. “Amidst some volatility from month to month, the underlying …
Read More »NZ debit, credit card retail spending gains 1.2% in February, led by hospitality
New Zealanders increased spending on debit and credit cards in February, led by gains in hospitality and apparel as low inflation makes households more relaxed about their consumption. The value of core retail spending, which strips out spending on fuel and vehicle related items, rose 1.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted $3.94 billion last month, accelerating from January’s revised 1 percent gain, …
Read More »While you were sleeping: US consumer gains confidence
Stocks on both sides of the Atlantic advanced amid better-than-expected corporate earnings and US consumer confidence climbing to the highest level in seven years. Focus is also squarely on US Federal Reserve policy makers as they started their two-day meeting. The central bank is expected to end its monthly bond-buying program. Shares of Amgen jumped, last up 5.1 percent, after …
Read More »While you were sleeping: US consumer confidence drops
Wall Street slid after a report showed a surprise decline in US consumer confidence, while other data showed disappointing home prices and business conditions in the Midwest. The Conference Board’s index of consumer attitudes dropped to 86.0 in September, down from an upwardly revised 93.4 in August. “We’re continuing to effectively struggle,” Mike Englund, chief economist at Action Economics in …
Read More »NZ consumer confidence falls in third quarter as rising rates dim outlook
New Zealand consumer confidence fell in the third quarter amid signs rising interest rates and a slower pace of economic growth are dimming the outlook and kiwis’ spending plans. The Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index fell to 116.7 in the September quarter, from 121.2 three months earlier and from a nine-year high of 121.7 in the March survey. A …
Read More »New Zealand consumer confidence eased in July from three-year high on petrol, interest rates
New Zealand consumer confidence eased in July as higher petrol prices and the prospect of rising mortgage rates dented financial sentiment. The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index slipped to 119.8 from a three-year high of 123.9 in June. The current conditions index dropped 4 points to 118 and sentiment on future conditions eased 5 points to 121. All five questions …
Read More »NZ business confidence rises to highest in more than three years, led by construction
New Zealand business confidence rose to its highest in more than three years in June, led by the construction sector. A net 50.1 percent of firms expect general business conditions to improve in the year ahead, up from 41.8 percent in May, and the highest level since early 2010, according to the ANZ Business Outlook. Firms seeing a pickup in …
Read More »NZ consumer confidence jumps to highest in three years in June on better economic prospects
New Zealand consumer confidence surged to its highest level in three years in June, buoyed by improving economic prospects, rising house values, low interest rates and falling prices, according to the latest Westpac McDermott-Miller Consumer Confidence survey. The index jumped to 116.6 in the June quarter, up from 110.8 in March and the highest level since June 2010 when it …
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