About
A senior journalist and news editor with interest.co.nz, David Hargreaves has covered financial markets and economics both in New Zealand and Britain for longer than he cares to mention.
David Hargreaves
Latest articles
Westpac says its customers are spending just 3.4% more than a year ago, while the population has grown 2.8% and retail prices have increased about 4%; customers with mortgages particularly spending less
27th Feb 24, 11:45am
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Westpac says its customers are spending just 3.4% more than a year ago, while the population has grown 2.8% and retail prices have increased about 4%; customers with mortgages particularly spending less
The Reserve Bank could easily hike the Official Cash Rate again in the coming week. But should it?
25th Feb 24, 6:00am
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The Reserve Bank could easily hike the Official Cash Rate again in the coming week. But should it?
Householders' views of future inflation have risen sharply in a development that goes very much against what the Reserve Bank is looking for as it seeks to dampen down inflation
22nd Feb 24, 3:34pm
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Householders' views of future inflation have risen sharply in a development that goes very much against what the Reserve Bank is looking for as it seeks to dampen down inflation
Our national airline says it is 'leaning into the reality of a worsening revenue and cost environment'
22nd Feb 24, 9:34am
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Our national airline says it is 'leaning into the reality of a worsening revenue and cost environment'
The National-led government has been left with a right royal migration mess to clean up. But what happens after the immediate salvage job?
21st Feb 24, 3:49pm
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The National-led government has been left with a right royal migration mess to clean up. But what happens after the immediate salvage job?
Stats NZ says New Zealand saw the lowest number of live births registered for 20 years in 2023
19th Feb 24, 1:35pm
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Stats NZ says New Zealand saw the lowest number of live births registered for 20 years in 2023
Our national airline announces profit guidance suggesting the second half of the current financial year is proving to be a very bumpy one
19th Feb 24, 11:49am
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Our national airline announces profit guidance suggesting the second half of the current financial year is proving to be a very bumpy one
Latest quarterly Reserve Bank figures show ahead of the likely introduction of debt to income restrictions in the middle of the year, new borrowers are currently well below the proposed lending limits to be imposed on banks
19th Feb 24, 11:03am
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Latest quarterly Reserve Bank figures show ahead of the likely introduction of debt to income restrictions in the middle of the year, new borrowers are currently well below the proposed lending limits to be imposed on banks
Independent global economic researchers Capital Economics say falls in nominal house prices have been 'modest' in most developed economies and 'almost non-existent' in some others
15th Feb 24, 11:32am
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Independent global economic researchers Capital Economics say falls in nominal house prices have been 'modest' in most developed economies and 'almost non-existent' in some others
[updated]
Stats NZ says food prices rose 0.9% in January, while rents for new tenancies shot up 2.5%, and tobacco prices increased 6.4% - but airfares went into reverse
14th Feb 24, 11:25am
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Stats NZ says food prices rose 0.9% in January, while rents for new tenancies shot up 2.5%, and tobacco prices increased 6.4% - but airfares went into reverse
[updated]
Fletcher Building makes after-tax loss of $120 million for the half year and won't pay a dividend; puts Australian Tradelink subsidiary up for sale after a $122 million writedown; warns on potential 'material' impact of Australian leaky pipes problem
14th Feb 24, 8:52am
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Fletcher Building makes after-tax loss of $120 million for the half year and won't pay a dividend; puts Australian Tradelink subsidiary up for sale after a $122 million writedown; warns on potential 'material' impact of Australian leaky pipes problem
[updated]
Influential RBNZ survey shows a decisive drop in the expectation of future levels of inflation in a result that will give the RBNZ comfort ahead of its next Official Cash Rate decision
13th Feb 24, 3:35pm
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Influential RBNZ survey shows a decisive drop in the expectation of future levels of inflation in a result that will give the RBNZ comfort ahead of its next Official Cash Rate decision
Fletcher Building tells the ASX its chief executive Ross Taylor may be about to leave as the company contemplates issuing earnings guidance likely to 'materially vary' from current analysts' forecasts
13th Feb 24, 9:19am
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Fletcher Building tells the ASX its chief executive Ross Taylor may be about to leave as the company contemplates issuing earnings guidance likely to 'materially vary' from current analysts' forecasts
[updated]
There are clear signs that the RBNZ’s 'heavy handed hikes' are inhibiting household demand, and hurting business, Kiwibank economists say
12th Feb 24, 12:22pm
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There are clear signs that the RBNZ’s 'heavy handed hikes' are inhibiting household demand, and hurting business, Kiwibank economists say
Dairy co-operative Fonterra raises its milk price for farmers by an implied 30 cents to $7.80 per kilogram of milk solids - meaning the early season slump in prices has been almost completely reversed
12th Feb 24, 9:13am
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Dairy co-operative Fonterra raises its milk price for farmers by an implied 30 cents to $7.80 per kilogram of milk solids - meaning the early season slump in prices has been almost completely reversed
Latest Reserve Bank figures indicate New Zealand's home owner-occupiers are increasingly focusing on shorter term fixed mortgage rates - presumably in the assumption that rates will come down sooner rather than later
8th Feb 24, 3:51pm
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Latest Reserve Bank figures indicate New Zealand's home owner-occupiers are increasingly focusing on shorter term fixed mortgage rates - presumably in the assumption that rates will come down sooner rather than later
Forsyth Barr analysts say Fletcher Building has now made $420 million worth of provisions on the convention centre project in the past 12 months and the latest ones 'bring into question management controls and board oversight'
8th Feb 24, 9:13am
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Forsyth Barr analysts say Fletcher Building has now made $420 million worth of provisions on the convention centre project in the past 12 months and the latest ones 'bring into question management controls and board oversight'
Westpac economists react to the latest dairy prices surge by raising their forecast for the milk price to $7.90 - which is close to the top end of Fonterra's forecast guidance range to farmers
7th Feb 24, 2:11pm
Westpac economists react to the latest dairy prices surge by raising their forecast for the milk price to $7.90 - which is close to the top end of Fonterra's forecast guidance range to farmers
David Hargreaves looks at the 'inevitable' discussion we are about to have as to whether it's still the right economic approach to just target low inflation at all costs
6th Feb 24, 6:00am
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David Hargreaves looks at the 'inevitable' discussion we are about to have as to whether it's still the right economic approach to just target low inflation at all costs
Labour market figures out in the coming week tipped to show unemployment rising from the last recorded 3.9% rate to 4.2% or higher
4th Feb 24, 6:01am
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Labour market figures out in the coming week tipped to show unemployment rising from the last recorded 3.9% rate to 4.2% or higher
Stats NZ says its household living-cost price indexes show that all household groups in the country faced higher cost increases in the 2023 year than the 4.7% indicated by the CPI, the official measure of inflation
1st Feb 24, 11:16am
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Stats NZ says its household living-cost price indexes show that all household groups in the country faced higher cost increases in the 2023 year than the 4.7% indicated by the CPI, the official measure of inflation
Latest RBNZ figures show non-performing housing loans rose by 78.5% in the past year - but the stress levels are still much lower than they were after the global financial crisis
1st Feb 24, 9:23am
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Latest RBNZ figures show non-performing housing loans rose by 78.5% in the past year - but the stress levels are still much lower than they were after the global financial crisis
Adrian Orr will give a keynote speech to a high-powered economic forum ahead of the Reserve Bank's first Official Cash Rate decision of the year
31st Jan 24, 2:27pm
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Adrian Orr will give a keynote speech to a high-powered economic forum ahead of the Reserve Bank's first Official Cash Rate decision of the year
'Overall, businesses expect the worst is past. Although the medicine has been bitter, it’s working'
31st Jan 24, 1:26pm
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'Overall, businesses expect the worst is past. Although the medicine has been bitter, it’s working'
David Hargreaves dives back through from the start of detailed mortgage figures the Reserve Bank has now been producing for 9 years to show a picture of burgeoning first home buyer involvement and mostly shrinking investor participation
31st Jan 24, 11:44am
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David Hargreaves dives back through from the start of detailed mortgage figures the Reserve Bank has now been producing for 9 years to show a picture of burgeoning first home buyer involvement and mostly shrinking investor participation