As has been the case across other areas of the economy, the transport industry showed some re-emergence of cost pressures in the March 2025 quarter. Repairs and maintenance costs jumped 4. 8% over the quarter to be 14% higher than a year ago, which was the fastest rate of increase since 2022. A 1. Read

The emerging international trade war has created uncertainty about global growth prospects and US trade and foreign policy, which could knock as much as 1. 4 percentage points off New Zealand’s GDP growth during 2026, according to Infometrics’ latest economic forecasts. Read

President Trump’s “on-again, off-again” tariffs, and the uncertainty associated with them, have thrown financial markets into a tailspin over the last couple of months. Although New Zealand is not directly in the firing line from tariffs yet, it’s a possibility in coming weeks. Read

Operating costs for transport companies were broadly lower in the final quarter of 2024, continuing a trend of moderating cost pressures throughout last year. Read

Diesel prices drifted downwards throughout much of 2024, by September reaching their lowest level since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. But the relief for transport operators has been short-lived, with a renewed lift of almost 30c/L since early October. Read

There’s reason for optimism about the New Zealand economy and business conditions over the next 24 months, according to Infometrics’ latest forecasts, as the post-inflation recession gets put behind us and interest rates return to more normal levels. Although economic growth is not forecast to get above 2.5%pa during 2025 and 2026, the recovery will be underpinned by increased household spending, a more stable housing market, and strength in export commodity prices. Read

“Survive until 2025” was the oft-repeated mantra throughout last year as households grappled with high mortgage rates, businesses saw demand fall away, and spending across the economy was down. Read

Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan has penned Infometrics’ traditional Christmas Carol. Sung to the tune of Perry Como's Christmas song “It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas”. Read

Expectations of a housing market pick-up during 2025 are mounting, with the Reserve Bank having cut the official cash rate by 125 basis points in the last four months. We look at the latest indicators to assess how much substance there might be to the market’s upturn. Read

Concrete roads are well suited for high intensity traffic and are more cost effective in the long run according to a new economic report. Read