NZ manufacturing firms up in May as production surges, forestry strengthens

NZ manufacturing firms up in May as production surges, forestry strengthens
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot June 17 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand manufacturing activity continued to firm in May as production surged, while employment resumed its expansion. The BNZ-BusinessNZ performance of manufacturing index rose to a seasonally adjusted 57.1 last month from 56.6 in April. A reading of 50 separates expansion from contraction and the long-term average is 53.1. The manufacturing sector has been expanding since October 2012 and has held above its long-term average for the past 11 months. Bank of New Zealand senior economist Craig...