Still too-high inflation and considerably higher interest rates are combining to constrain economic activity across New Zealand, according to Infometrics’ latest monitoring of regional economies. Read

We are excited to launch an expansion of our Quarterly Economic Monitor (QEM) to provide a broader perspective on the prosperity of New Zealand’s communities. In this article, we introduce and explore the 13 new indicators which reflect economic, labour, social, and housing outcomes at a local level. Read

New Zealand’s economy looks to have expanded further in the September 2023 quarter, although momentum has slowed as various economic pressures hit. Continued jobs and population growth have supported growth, but high inflation and higher interest rates have moderated the strength seen in the economy. Rising pressures on the primary sector are also beginning to hit provincial economies. Read

Economic momentum continues to hold up better than expected across New Zealand, with rapid jobs growth and population growth counterbalancing inflation and interest rate challenges faced by households. Some parts of the country continue to experience solid growth, but others remain hampered by the ongoing effects of wild weather over the first half of 2023. Read

Economic activity remained finely balanced at the start of 2023, with a strong labour market, rising interest rates, and weather disruptions all major influences on a cautious but still robust start to 2023. Read

Economic activity remained solid at the end of 2022, following a substantially stronger boost in the September 2022 quarter. However, the disruption from Cyclone Gabrielle poses a challenge for several regional North Island economies over an extended period. Read

Economic activity remained elevated across New Zealand in the September 2022 quarter, driven by stronger tourism activity and still-solid household spending. Infometrics’ September 2022 Quarterly Economic Monitor shows a 2.6% rise in annual provisional economic activity for the 12 months to September 2022, driven by a 5.4%pa rise in quarterly economic activity due to the comparison with the Delta lockdown-affected September 2021 quarter. Read

Economic activity bounced back in the second quarter of 2022, but an even stronger recovery was prevented by the capacity challenges facing regional economies. Infometrics’ June 2022 Quarterly Economic Monitor shows a 0.9% rise in annual economic activity for the 12 months to June 2022. Read

Economic momentum stalled at the start of 2022, as Omicron limited economic activity. Infometrics’ March 2022 Quarterly Economic Monitor shows economic activity rose 2.0%pa in the quarter on provisional estimates, with underlying growth flat from last quarter as workers and materials became even harder to find at the start of 2022. Read

Nick Brunsdon has recently joined the Infometrics Team.  This month we sit down to chat with Nick about what he’s working on at Infometrics and what brought him full circle to work in economics. Read