NZ service sector expands in August, retail trade subdued

NZ service sector expands in August, retail trade subdued
By Paul McBeth Sept. 15 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand service sector activity expanded in August, with employment at its highest level since the survey began in 2007, though retail trade was subdued in the month. The BNZ-BusinessNZ performance of services index slipped 0.5 points to 57.9 in August, and was up from 53.7 in the same month a year earlier. The service sector, which accounts for about two-thirds of the economy, has been in expansion since July 2010, where a reading above 50 indicates increased activity. "While business optim...