RBNZ develops new index to measure the economy

RBNZ develops new index to measure the economy
Staff reporters
The Reserve Bank said it has developed a monthly financial conditions index (FCI) for New Zealand to help it better gauge how shifts in central bank policy and economic outlook, including foreign financial condition shocks, are filtering out into the real world.The indices measure the state of financial variables, such as interest rates, share prices, house prices and exchange rates."If financial conditions in the economy are 'loose', they stimulate real economic activity, and, if they are 'tight', economic activity is cons...