Michael Gordon
Jobs confidence reaches its highest level since September 2008
Confidence in the jobs market rose to its highest level, since September 2008, although it's still below the September 2007 peak. Audio
The rising trend in building consents slows
Economists say the rising trend in building consents is slowing but the uptrend should continue, particularly in the areas that need new housing the most. Audio
One reason for the rising current account deficit is good news
One of the reasons the current account deficit blew out by $1.4 billion to $2 billion in the June quarter actually reflects positive news about the economy. Audio
The current account defict blew out to $2 billion
The current account deficit blew out to 2 billion dollars in the June quarter from a 600 million deficit in the March quarter, mainly due to a fall in exports of goods, particularly dairy products. Audio
Electronic cards spending figures offer little cheer to clothing retailers
The latest figures on retail spending using electronic cards show clothing retailers had little to cheer about in August. Audio
Retail spending on electronic cards rose 0.5% in August
Consumers thrashing their plastic in the hospitality sector was the main reason for a 0.5 percent rise in retail spending, using electronic cards, in August. Audio
Producers pay less for goods and services; customers paying less
The sharp fall in dairy prices, over the past half year, is beginning to flow through into official government statistics. Audio
Producers pay less for goods and services
The cost of buying the goods and services producers use to supply their customers, fell 1.0 percent in the three months ended in June, from the previous quarter. Audio
Jobless rate should tick lower but little wage growth yet
An economist expects the unemployment rate will continue to tick lower but that wage growth probably won't accelerate much until inflation picks up more. Audio
Jobs figures initially confuse the currency market
Investors didn't know initially what to make of the jobs figures and pushed the New Zealand dollar both sharply higher and lower. Audio
Economists expect a higher inflation rate than the Reserve Bank
Economists on average are expecting a 0.4 percent increase in the Consumers Price Index for the June quarter, taking the annual rate to 1.8 percent. Audio
Employment confidence remains a long way from boom levels
Confidence about employment is still a long way from boom-time levels, even though it's reached its highest level since September 2008. Audio
.Employment confidence reaches its highest level since 2008
Confidence about employment is at its highest level since September 2008 but remains well below its pre-recession peak. Audio
Economic growth likely to ease somewhat
The pace of economic growth is likely to ease somewhat but should continue to be faster than the long-term average for the next couple of years. Audio
The economy grew slightly slower than expected
The economy grew marginally slower than expected in the March quarter but still advanced 1 percent. Audio
New Zealand's current account position likely to deteriorate
New Zealand's current account position likely to deteriorate from now but it probably won't become as large as it was during the last economic upswing. Audio
New Zealand chalks up a record current account surplus
New Zealand's actual current account surplus reached a record of 1.4 billion dollars in the March quarter, thanks to surging dairy exports and the peak season for tourism. Audio
Wholesale sales fell 0.4 percent in the March quarter
Wholesale sales fell 0.4 percent in the March quarter with a rise in sales of basic materials cancelling out a decline in sales of machinery and equipment. Audio
House sales plummet but prices reach new records
Sales of houses plummeted in April, at least partly due to the Easter, Anzac Day and school holidays, but prices continued to rise, reaching new records. Audio
Jobs data confirm the economy is strong
The jobs figures released yesterday offer yet more confirmation the economy is growing at a spanking pace. Audio