Three decades of independent and impartial economic analysis

Infometrics is a privately owned and operated company, based in Wellington, New Zealand. Founded in 1983, the company has built a reputation for rigorous and independent economic analysis, delivered on time and within budget. 

The company consists of three broad business areas or services, namely the Forecasting Service, the Regional Service, and the Consulting Service.

Infometrics aims to assist our clients in understanding the economic forces which affect their businesses or organisations.  Our wide range of economic expertise means that we use a variety of approaches to understand our client’s economic questions.

Innovative thinking and clear communication

Forecasting Service brochure

Strategic planning and insight

Regional focus on economic issues

Consulting Service brochure

We understand how the economy affects you

Skills, knowledge and data

At Infometrics we value analytical rigour and have always been independent and impartial.  Our analyses are robust, rigorous and quantitatively-based with strong theoretical and empirical foundations.  Our reports are presented in straightforward language that is easy to understand, and our economists are on hand to guide you through the issues. We provide our clients with the framework for better understanding the economic issues that affect their organisation.  

Our economists have a wide range of skills and research interests, and a detailed understanding of the economic issues at work in New Zealand. We have a proven track record in both private and public sectors, producing high-quality analysis and research that can give our clients a better understanding of the issues they face, and therefore a competitive advantage.

Our team.

Careers at Infometrics

Infometrics Forecast service subscription information

Our Forecasting Service is divided into a number of different modules - economics, building & property, and transport.  

Subscription is on an annual basis and includes: 

• Hard copy and web-based forecasts (published three times per year).
• Access to the relevant sections of our website (as many people within the organisation as you like), with email notification on a weekly basis when information is updated. The service includes regular updates on the latest data as it is released, with commentary and analysis on how we believe it affects the economic or industry outlook.
• Access to our Financial Weekly publication, which includes discussion on the latest macroeconomic developments both in New Zealand and offshore.
• Access to all historical reports.
• Access to our economists if you have any questions/data requests/etc - small queries would be covered by your annual fee, but there would be a cost for larger jobs.

One-off forecasts, and our economic monitoring service

Three forecasts released annually

We are experts in regional economic data and reporting.

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Seminar presentations for clients and the public

• input for the business planning process
• a useful “heads up” for directors or senior managers to assist in policy, planning, and strategic decision making
• part of an annual conference, giving a macroeconomic context for attendees to consider as they explore opportunities for their business going forward
• a chance for you to host and add value for your own customers, helping to enhance your relationships with them.

New Zealand Economic Forecasts

Infometrics publishes three comprehensive forecasts of the New Zealand economy each year. These detailed forecasts are supplemented by frequent analysis of data as it is released, with commentary on trends and issues that affect the economic outlook. 

The Economic Forecast report and commentaries include: household income and expenditure, business investment, financial data including interest rates and exchange rate forecasts, monetary and fiscal policy developments, external trade trends, as well as a host of specific data and analysis. Infometrics regularly comments on and analyses overseas economic developments as they affect the outlook for the New Zealand economy. 

Building & Property Forecasts

The Building and Property Forecast reports provide coverage of the economic drivers behind building activity, including population growth, interest rates, and activity in the property market. From this base, we develop detailed forecasts of both residential and non-residential construction. There is discussion of specific trends for subsectors such as apartments, residential alterations, and a range of six non-residential building types from commercial to hospital building. The reports also include the outlook for infrastructure activity. This forecast is complimented by our Annual Infrastructure Survey, which provides a rich source of information about the types and regional spread of infrastructure spending over the next decade. 

Infometrics’ website also includes regular commentary on the latest data on building activity and its drivers, as well as general articles relevant to the building and property sector. 

Transport Forecasts

Our Transport Forecasts provide in-depth analysis of many of the key factors driving vehicle sales, including transport costs and prices, financial market indicators, trade volumes, and tourism. From this base, detailed forecasts are prepared for both new and imported used car registrations, as well as light, medium, and very heavy truck registrations. Analysis of trucking activity levels is also provided to highlight the intensity with which the existing fleet is being used. 

In addition to the Transport Forecast reports, transport subscribers also receive monthly commentaries, which cover the latest vehicle registration data, activity level data (including road user charges and diesel sales), and related economic data. Furthermore, subscribers have access on our website to a calendar of key events relevant to the vehicle industry and periodic articles on aspects of the transport sector. 

Infometrics Forecast service subscription information

• Hard copy and web-based forecasts (published three times per year). 
• Access to the relevant sections of our website (as many people within the organisation as you like), with email notification on a weekly basis when information is updated. 
• The service includes regular updates on the latest data as it is released, with commentary and analysis on how we believe it affects the economic or industry outlook. 
• Access to our Financial Weekly publication, which includes discussion on the latest macroeconomic developments both in New Zealand and offshore. 
• Access to all historical reports. 
• Access to our economists if you have any questions/data requests/etc - small queries would be covered by your annual fee, but there would be a cost for larger jobs. 

One-off forecasts, and our economic monitoring service

We also offer the option of buying a single forecast book and associated excel data.  If you find the service useful you can extend it into a full subscription by paying the difference.  The full service includes more than just the forecasts, however, as it provides constant updates and direct access to our economists to answer your questions.

We also have a lower-cost economic monitoring service which provides subscribers with access to our analysis of the latest economic data as it is released, but this does not include any of our forecasts. 

To enquire about a one-off forecast or our economic monitoring service, please contact us.

Three forecasts released annually

Seminars for clients and the public

• input for the business planning process
• a useful “heads up” for directors or senior managers to assist in policy, planning, and strategic decision making
• part of an annual conference, giving a macroeconomic context for attendees to consider as they explore opportunities for their business going forward
• a chance for you to host and add value for your own customers, helping to enhance your relationships with them.

Annual Infrastructure Survey

Infometrics publishes an annual survey of infrastructure projects and spending over the next 1-10 years. The report focuses on work not captured in the residential or non-residential construction areas: roading; ports; airports; rail; electricity generation, transmission, and distribution; and water supply, stormwater, and sewerage. 

The report uses a "bottom-up" approach to understand what types of infrastructure spending are likely to take place, what major projects have been proposed or are being worked on, and where activity is likely to occur on a regional basis. 

The report also aims to provide a rich source of information and data around the infrastructure sector – something that has often been lacking in New Zealand in the past. 

Regional Forecasts

Skills, knowledge, and data

At Infometrics, we value analytical rigour and have always been independent and impartial.  Our analyses are robust, rigorous, and quantitatively-based, with strong theoretical and empirical foundations.  Our reports are presented in straightforward language that is easy to understand, and our economists are on hand to guide you through the issues. 

Our economists have a wide range of skills and research interests, and a detailed understanding of the economic issues at work in New Zealand. We have a proven track record in both the private and public sectors, producing high-quality analysis and research that can give our clients a better understanding of the issues they face, and therefore a competitive advantage.

Sophisticated analytical tools

Robust economic and labour market data

Cost benefit analysis

Economic impact analysis

Forecasting and modelling

Regional forecasting framework

Government policy expertise

Maps that can help you understand the data

Infometrics Regional Economic Profile

Regional Economic Profile

The Regional Economic Profile should be the starting point for any discussion about your region’s economy, as it provides a wealth of baseline economic information. It provides an in-depth description of your region’s or district’s economic structure and performance over the past year and previous years. It is a dynamic report enabling you to change dimensions of the tables and charts. The report can be integrated seamlessly into your website.

Quarterly regional reports

Keep your finger on the economic pulse

The Regional Quarterly Monitor is a cost effective way of regularly monitoring the economic performance of your city, district or region. We report on a wide range of economic indicators, including: economic activity, the labour market, retail sales, construction, the housing market, and electricity consumption. We use technology to speed up the preparation of the reports, which enables us to keep costs down.

Profile your workforce

The Workforce Profile helps you understand the changing skill needs in your district. It describes the changing demand for occupations and what this means for the demand for qualifications. It enables you to monitor equity issues with measures of employment by ethnicity, gender, and age.

Plan for future skill needs

For your region to meet its future potential, it will need to ensure that the skills required by employers are available. The Tomorrow’s Workforce report will give workforce planners and tertiary education providers an understanding of where the regional economy is heading and which occupations and qualifications will be required in the future.

Monitor your key sectors (available later in 2013)

The Sector Performance Tool will enable you to monitor the performance of key sectors which you define. If the standard industry categories from Statistics New Zealand do not fit with your region’s economy then the Sector Performance Tool will help you. The tool gives you substantial flexibility in defining industries and will estimate a range of performance indicators and generate a report for each sector.

Enhance your export performance (available later in 2013)

Your region can enhance its performance by tapping into the international market. The Export Performance Tool will help you gauge how well your region’s exports are performing. Identify which are your major exporting industries and which have experienced the highest growth. You can adjust the assumptions to refine the estimates.

Outstrip your neighbours (available later in 2013)

The Regional Performance Tool helps you monitor your performance relative to other districts or regions in New Zealand. Compare your district’s key performance indicators against all other districts in New Zealand.

Measure the impact of shocks (available later in 2013)

The Economic Impact Tool enables you to quantify the impact of economic shocks such as a new investment or factory closure. It will enable you to provide your stakeholders with robust analysis of upcoming changes in your local economy. The tool predicts the expected number of jobs created or lost and the impact on regional economic output associated with the economic shock.

Have all the data at your fingertips

The Regional Data Service is a single comprehensive and well-ordered database that brings together numerous sources of regional information. The time series database includes our own estimates of regional GDP and regional employment together with indicators of the labour market, property market, retail sales, vehicle sales, electricity consumption, and agriculture.

Look into the future

Infometrics maintains a forecasting framework for every territorial authority in New Zealand. We provide forecasts of industry output and employment for each district that is consistent with current macroeconomic prospects. The method links key macroeconomic indicators (e.g. inflation, interest rates, unemployment, the exchange rate, business profitability etc) to prospects for individual industries in each district. If necessary we can supplement this forecast approach with general equilibrium analysis. 

However, the strength of our regional forecast approach is that it focuses on the dynamics of the growth process and it ensures consistency with macroeconomic prospects. The framework can be used to generate long-term projections over a 50-year horizon - a useful tool in the development of scenarios and conducting risk analysis. 

The forecasts can be customised to meet the specific requirements of your organisation. This customisation might include the monitoring and forecasting of specific industries or territorial authorities, the implications for employment by occupation and consequent training requirements, and/or assistance with the development of organisation specific plans.

Maps that can help you understand the data

Infographic examples

Concise and attractive

Our infographics convey a wealth of information about your local economy in a concise and visually attractive way. They make economic information accessible to a wide audience.

The Summary Infographic provides a two page overview of the headline findings from the region’s Economic Profile. It covers the economy, labour market, productivity, population, business growth and standard of living.

The Indicators Infographic shows how your local economy compares against 65 other territorial authorities according to 20 indicators of performance, structure and size.  You will be able to identify your region’s strengths and weaknesses at a glance.