NZ consumer confidence falls sharply in December as policy, economic concerns weigh

NZ consumer confidence falls sharply in December as policy, economic concerns weigh
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand consumer confidence dropped sharply in December, falling below historical averages, with households concerned about the general economic environment and their personal financial situation. The Westpac McDermott Miller consumer confidence index fell 5 points to 107.4 in the December quarter, below the long-run average of 111.4. A reading above 100 indicates optimists outnumber pessimists, and the survey has been above that level since March 2011. The present conditions index fell 4.5 poin...