Stats NZ says GDP data closely guarded secret until release day

Stats NZ says GDP data closely guarded secret until release day
Rebecca Howard
By Rebecca Howard Sept. 18 (BusinessDesk) - Government Statistician Liz MacPherson came out swinging at the suggestion that anyone - even the Prime Minister - is given a sneak preview into data such as quarterly gross domestic product reports. "There are 'absolutely not' any hints to anyone, including the Prime Minister, before the release of economic growth figures from Stats NZ," she said. "Stats NZ has strict embargo rules about tier-one statistics such as gross domestic product. These figures are market sensitive and are never given t...