Despite a decline in the headline price inflation rate, a continued high level of withdrawals from KiwiSaver for financial hardship reasons suggests cost-of-living pressures are still being felt by some households. Read

Tractors are often seen as a key piece of farm equipment, and long have been thought of as a good economic indicator of farm spending and investment. Despite the continued focus on tractors in New Zealand, and how they can act as a bellwether for the primary sector, in reality, things are shifting. Infometrics analysis shows that New Zealand passed peak tractor back in 2022, and they are likely become a less important indicator of primary sector activity as the sector shifts to different and more varied technology. Read

Despite clear trade concerns globally, New Zealand’s primary sector is in a strong position, and high food commodity prices reinforce this strength. But Fonterra’s opening farmgate milk price forecast for the 2025/26 season provides a major signal of caution, highlighting the heightened volatility in global economic conditions, dairy supply dynamics, and trade tensions. Read

Many of us have come to accept that doing the right thing for the environment comes with a higher cost. However, our recent analysis for the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) found that households can be substantially better off with the benefits of a greener home. Read

Fuel is critically important to any economy, given it literally powers and enables the movement of goods and people, supports production, and underpins supply chains. A stable, secure, and affordable fuel supply helps maintain economic stability, and so knowing where fuel is sourced from better informs security of supply and the importance of strong trading relationships. Read

Can a student who doesn’t flourish at school catch up through tertiary education? Second chance learners can improve their prospects, but based on an analysis of average earnings, people who attain lower qualifications at school remain at a disadvantage several years after graduating from tertiary education. Read

Budget 2025 was delivered amid a backdrop of rising global uncertainty, dragging broader economic expectations lower and making fiscal settings more constrained. Domestic economic activity is still set to recover, but Budget 2025 also reinforced views that the government will be less of a driving force for this recovery, as more focus is shifted to households and the private sector to rev up New Zealand’s economic engines. Read

Earlier this month we introduced the New Zealand Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation (NZDep) to the Regional Economic Profile Census section. In this article we discuss NZDep and what it can tell us about our communities. Read

There has been endless news on the current unprecedented trade war between the US and the rest of the world. The effects on US consumers and the US economy should not be understated, and forecasts incorporating current policy paint a depressing outlook for the US. Read

New data from Stats NZ shows a number of items becoming more popular over time, particularly as technology shifts, while other products fall out of favour with households as preferences change. Read