Consumers gloomier as omicron shadow looms

People's fear of catching omicron has seen cities empty out. (Image: File)

Fri, 04 Mar 2022

New Zealand consumers were the gloomiest on record about the state of the economy as the omicron outbreak has them staying away from retailers while rising prices eat into their purchasing power.The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index sank 16 points in February to 81.7, its lowest level since the data began in 2004, and well off the long-run average of 120.A net 18% of the 1,003 respondents to the survey felt worse off now than they did a year ago, and a net 2% expect things to get worse for their own finances in 12 months. In January, jus...

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