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

No respite for the NZ dollar
Economy

No respite for the NZ dollar

Easing trade tensions isn’t helping the NZ dollar. 

RBNZ and the curious case of prudential stacks
Opinion

Andy Macdonald: RBNZ and the curious case of prudential stacks

The end result of the RBNZ’s capital review will be both revealing and fascinating.

Andy Macdonald 21 Oct 2025
Economists expect a 25bps cut in Nov, inflation as expected
Economy

Economists expect a 25bps cut in Nov, inflation as expected

Annual inflation was 3%, within the 1% to 3% band. 

Rebecca Howard 20 Oct 2025
Annual inflation hits 3% as housing and power costs surge
Economy

Annual inflation hits 3% as housing and power costs surge

It follows a 2.7% rise in the June quarter. 

Rebecca Howard 20 Oct 2025