Steel & Tube customers get a breather but price outlook murky

Steel & Tube customers get a breather but price outlook murky
The outlook for steel prices and related commodities is uncertain. (Image: Steel & Tube)
Jenny Ruth
Steel & Tube’s customers got a bit of a breather in its last procurement update, although it was more along the lines of costs aren’t going up so fast and some are even going down, than any expectation of any material price decreases.Indeed, the fall in the New Zealand dollar alone is forcing prices higher, even as shipping costs and supply-chain congestion ease a little and China’s zero-covid policy and its resulting lockdowns ease demand for steel, iron oil, coal and other steel-related commodities.“The outbreak of...

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