NZ services sector activity picks up in February as jobs growth makes up for manufacturing

NZ services sector activity picks up in February as jobs growth makes up for manufacturing
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth March 14 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand's services sector activity expanded at a faster pace in February, as a better employment outlook made up for a deteriorating jobs picture among manufacturers.  The BNZ-BusinessNZ performance of services index rose 1.5 points to a seasonally adjusted 56.9 last month, snapping two declines. The series has been above 50, which separates expansion from contraction, for five-and-a-half years.  Among the sub-indices, employment increased 2.4 points to 53.5. That's in contrast to a contract...