Signs of economic strain: consents, cranes and cars

Fri, 04 Sep 2020

Employment numbers aren’t to be trusted, the housing market remains perky, and there were signs of a resurgence in the retail sector before Auckland's second lockdown sucked the wind out of its sales.So, to which end of town do we look for more robust signs of the impending and much touted great covid recession?There are some stress fractures emerging, though they aren’t as high profile as you would think.ConsentsThe longer the 77,000 or so international tourists and students who used to get through New Zealand passpor...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Markets Market Close

NZ stocks claw back lost ground to end up 0.8%

A gain in Ebos and expectations of lower interest rates have boosted NZ stocks.

Jamie Gray 6:18pm

Finance

FMA gets eligible investor certification clarity

High Court Justice Sally Fitzgerald released a 45-page judgment on Thursday.

Staff reporters 5:00pm

FMA gets eligible investor certification clarity

Markets

Major stock moves expected as index reshuffles hit markets

Analysts are anticipating the week will end with significant volume and volatility.

Gregor Thompson 2:51pm

Major stock moves expected as index reshuffles hit markets

Sponsored

Future leaders start by Dreaming Big

How OnBeingBold empowers Year 13 girls at free leadership events.

OnBeingBold

Sponsored

Free AI training blitz targets 10,000 Kiwis

Workshops aim to close NZ’s AI skills gap and boost productivity – no tech skills required.

Sponsored by Lumify

More Economy

Economy

Willis teases new RBNZ governor after GDP drop

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says a new Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor will be announced “very shortly” as she comes under growing pressure to tackle NZ’s economic woes.Economists are calling on the RBNZ to cut the official cash rate (OCR) more aggressively after yesterda...

Staff reporters 9:00am