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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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'
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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