RESEND: NZ consumer confidence falls as interest rate hikes bite

Fri, 23 May 2014

(Fixes typo in third paragraph) By Suze Metherill May. 23 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand consumer confidence fell to a seven-month low in May as two interest rate hikes and expectations for slower economic growth later this year sapped people's optimism. The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index eased to 127.6 this month, from 133.5 in April, and is 8 points off the pre-recession high. The current conditions index slipped to 123 from 130.3 and the future conditions index fell to 130.7 from 135.8. "Higher interest rates are starting...

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