Articles

New Zealand households are spending more but getting less for it. The latest electronic card transactions data points to a growing disconnect between nominal spending and actual consumption, as sharp rises in fuel prices push up total outlays while underlying volumes continue to decline.

Inflation is often discussed as a single headline number, but how price pressures are experienced by households depends heavily on what is getting more expensive.

Economic data doesn’t usually feature on the Christmas wish list, but it does have a habit of showing up at the checkout. For many households, the festive season is as much about budgets as it is about BBQs, pavlovas, and full fridges for visiting family.

New Zealand is an increasingly multicultural society. Here we look at the different ways that ethnic communities contribute to our economy.

New data from Stats NZ shows a number of items becoming more popular over time, particularly as technology shifts, while other products fall out of favour with households as preferences change.

Boxing Day spending was big for 2024, but looking at the broader Christmas spending trends implies that shoppers are still conscious about how they’re spending, and it appears that shoppers are looking for bargains before being convinced to part with their cash.

We economists can be a tactless bunch. Last week’s announcement that the economy had contracted for the fourth time in five quarters was greeted with comments about how the recession was necessary, and that the extent of the contraction only highlighted to serve how overheated...

High inflation in recent years has prompted much discussion about how households are adjusting their spending to cope. Although wages have been increasing too, meaning that households can also afford more, we haven’t had a clear idea of the changing preferences and priorities that dictate what households are spending more or less on.

Black Friday has quickly morphed in recent years from just another incursion of American culture to one of the biggest retail events of the year, even surpassing the Boxing Day sales. Although the sales by New Zealand retailers mostly seem to lack the fabled offers that almost cause stampedes in US malls, they still offer an opportunity for organised and savvy shoppers to get their Christmas shopping done for less.

Spending activity continues to be in focus, with Black Friday sales and the looming Christmas shopping season providing some insight into household budgets.