NZ commodity prices fall in December while stronger kiwi cuts export earnings

NZ commodity prices fall in December while stronger kiwi cuts export earnings
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot Jan. 17 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand commodity prices dropped again in December while the stronger kiwi dollar eroded export receipts for primary producers.  The ANZ Commodity Price index slipped 2.2 percent to 285.5 in December and was up 3 percent in the year. However, in New Zealand dollar terms the index dropped 3 percent to 216.6, paring the annual gain to 6.4 percent, as the trade-weighted index rose 2.7 percent in the month of December.   "This was the largest fall in world and local prices since the current upwar...