Consumers may emerge with curtailed spending habits

Wed, 20 May 2020

Spending has lifted significantly as New Zealand has emerged from national lockdown but an Otago University professor warns any splurge won’t last.Consumer behaviour researcher Leah Watkins, an associate professor in the marketing department of the university's school of business, said increased activity during the first days of reopening would probably be shortlived as the lockdown had inspired people to tighten their belts.People would have assessed what their finances looked like when discretionary spending was saved, and that...

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