NZ economy contracts 1.6% in 1Q, bigger hit to come

NZ economy contracts 1.6% in 1Q, bigger hit to come
Rebecca Howard
New Zealand’s economy saw its biggest contraction in 29 years in the first quarter as travel restrictions took hold and the country moved toward a lockdown to stop the spread of covid-19, but the bigger hit will come in the June quarter. The economy fell 1.6 percent in March, the first quarterly fall since December 2010 and the largest fall since March 1991, Stats NZ said. The economy grew 0.5 percent in the December quarter. While economists had forecast a wide range of numbers, from a 2.7 percent contraction to 0.6 percent growth, the d...

More Economy

Business gloom offers inflation hope
Economy

Business gloom offers inflation hope

The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research’s (NZIER) Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion shows a continued deterioration in business confidence in the second quarter.A net 35% of firms expected a deterioration in the general economic outlook over the coming months on a seaso...

Staff reporters 02 Jul 2024
Independent costings needed for tough political decisions
Economy

Independent costings needed for tough political decisions

The time is now for an Independent Fiscal Institution.

Cameron Bagrie 01 Jul 2024
Brave-faced craft chocolate industry finds strength in unity
Retail

Brave-faced craft chocolate industry finds strength in unity

More than 30 boutique chocolate companies raised the bar at Chocstock.

Gregor Thompson 01 Jul 2024