NZ economy grows faster-than-forecast 0.9% in 4th quarter on business services, retail; kiwi jumps

NZ economy grows faster-than-forecast 0.9% in 4th quarter on business services, retail; kiwi jumps
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth March 17 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand's economy grew at a faster pace than expected in the final three months of 2015 on increased activity in business services, a boost in retail and accommodation spending, and renewed construction activity. The kiwi dollar jumped. Gross domestic product expanded 0.9 percent in the three months ended Dec. 31, the same pace as the September quarter, Statistics New Zealand said. That was more than the 0.6 percent projected in a Reuters poll of economists and the Reserve Bank's forecast of 0....