NZ consumer confidence rises in December on low interest rates, though nervousness remains for future

NZ consumer confidence rises in December on low interest rates, though nervousness remains for future
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot Dec. 21 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand consumer confidence picked up in the fourth quarter, with low interest rates encouraging spending though consumers remain dubious about future economic conditions. The Westpac McDermott Miller consumer confidence index rose to 110.7 in the December quarter, from 106 in the September quarter, coming in slightly below the historical average of 111.5. A reading above 100 indicates optimists outweigh pessimists. The present conditions index rose 3.3 points to 111.6, and the expected conditio...