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
The Reserve Bank is almost being 'out-hawked' by economists as they bid up the odds of higher interest rates ahead of this week's latest Official Cash Rate decision
22nd May 23, 2:23pm
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The Reserve Bank is almost being 'out-hawked' by economists as they bid up the odds of higher interest rates ahead of this week's latest Official Cash Rate decision
David Hargreaves examines the coming week's Reserve Bank OCR review and says much attention will be on whatever the RBNZ indicates it might do next - rather than what it actually does on the day. Will there be surprises? Oh, probably
21st May 23, 6:00am
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David Hargreaves examines the coming week's Reserve Bank OCR review and says much attention will be on whatever the RBNZ indicates it might do next - rather than what it actually does on the day. Will there be surprises? Oh, probably
Latest RBNZ figures show NZ's new mortgage borrowers stretching themselves much less than has been seen in recent years in regards to the amount of debt they're taking on relative to income
19th May 23, 7:44am
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Latest RBNZ figures show NZ's new mortgage borrowers stretching themselves much less than has been seen in recent years in regards to the amount of debt they're taking on relative to income
BNZ economists say the Reserve Bank's next move is likely to be heavily influenced by its assumptions of the supply and demand impacts of a net migration inflow that is 'much stronger than anyone believed'
17th May 23, 12:05pm
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BNZ economists say the Reserve Bank's next move is likely to be heavily influenced by its assumptions of the supply and demand impacts of a net migration inflow that is 'much stronger than anyone believed'
Surging inbound migration seen adding demand to the New Zealand economy, with Westpac economists now forecasting a net gain of 100,000 migrants this year
16th May 23, 5:00am
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Surging inbound migration seen adding demand to the New Zealand economy, with Westpac economists now forecasting a net gain of 100,000 migrants this year
ANZ economists say latest sales figures are consistent with a housing market that's nearing a turn, while the increased demand for housing from migration is likely to put upward pressure on prices
15th May 23, 10:55am
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ANZ economists say latest sales figures are consistent with a housing market that's nearing a turn, while the increased demand for housing from migration is likely to put upward pressure on prices
David Hargreaves looks at some issues that need tackling ahead of the next housing boom, because yes, there will be another
12th May 23, 5:00am
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David Hargreaves looks at some issues that need tackling ahead of the next housing boom, because yes, there will be another
Westpac NZ economists say stronger measures will be needed in the grocery sector to generate enough competition to deliver the outcomes the Government seeks
12th May 23, 5:00am
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Westpac NZ economists say stronger measures will be needed in the grocery sector to generate enough competition to deliver the outcomes the Government seeks
[updated]
Food prices up 12.5% in the year to April 2023 - the highest annual rate of increase seen since 1987; National's Willis says household budgets have 'nowhere to hide'
11th May 23, 10:58am
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Food prices up 12.5% in the year to April 2023 - the highest annual rate of increase seen since 1987; National's Willis says household budgets have 'nowhere to hide'
[updated]
Stats NZ figures show that total card spending rose 1% after seasonal adjustment in April, following a big 3.1% rise in March
9th May 23, 11:13am
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Stats NZ figures show that total card spending rose 1% after seasonal adjustment in April, following a big 3.1% rise in March
Tower says the Auckland Anniversary Weekend flood may now cost as much as $225 million, while it says it won't be paying a half-year dividend to shareholders
8th May 23, 10:23am
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Tower says the Auckland Anniversary Weekend flood may now cost as much as $225 million, while it says it won't be paying a half-year dividend to shareholders
Reserve Bank concedes that about 25% of outstanding mortgages were stress-tested by banks at lower interest rates than prevail now
4th May 23, 11:54am
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Reserve Bank concedes that about 25% of outstanding mortgages were stress-tested by banks at lower interest rates than prevail now
Another migration-fuelled housing boom had seemed like it might be a story for three-to-five years time, but the speed of the comeback of large-scale inbound migration means we need to be thinking hard about the issue right now
4th May 23, 5:00am
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Another migration-fuelled housing boom had seemed like it might be a story for three-to-five years time, but the speed of the comeback of large-scale inbound migration means we need to be thinking hard about the issue right now
BNZ economists say the migration surge is 'great news for moderating wage inflation' but raises questions of how strong population-led growth may become and how this may delay the Reserve Bank easing monetary conditions
3rd May 23, 2:32pm
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BNZ economists say the migration surge is 'great news for moderating wage inflation' but raises questions of how strong population-led growth may become and how this may delay the Reserve Bank easing monetary conditions
Statistics New Zealand says the unemployment rate remained the same in the March quarter, while there were 22,000 jobs added, the labour force participation rate hit a new high and private sector ordinary hourly wage growth rose to 8.2%
3rd May 23, 11:04am
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Statistics New Zealand says the unemployment rate remained the same in the March quarter, while there were 22,000 jobs added, the labour force participation rate hit a new high and private sector ordinary hourly wage growth rose to 8.2%
Whineray to leave NZ Super Fund after five years in charge and 15 years at the fund and will depart before the end of the year; search for a replacement to begin shortly
3rd May 23, 10:06am
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Whineray to leave NZ Super Fund after five years in charge and 15 years at the fund and will depart before the end of the year; search for a replacement to begin shortly
Reserve Bank says about a quarter of the current outstanding mortgage stock was taken out during the peak of the housing boom in 2020-21 - with a fifth of this taken by first home buyers
2nd May 23, 11:12am
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Reserve Bank says about a quarter of the current outstanding mortgage stock was taken out during the peak of the housing boom in 2020-21 - with a fifth of this taken by first home buyers
Labour market figures to be released this week will likely show unemployment levels largely unchanged, but economists and the Reserve Bank are still expecting 'slack' to start emerging in the labour force as the year goes on
1st May 23, 2:31pm
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Labour market figures to be released this week will likely show unemployment levels largely unchanged, but economists and the Reserve Bank are still expecting 'slack' to start emerging in the labour force as the year goes on
Statistics New Zealand says the cost of living for households rose 7.7% in the year to March 2023, boosted by higher rents and interest payments and increased grocery food, fruit and vegetables prices
1st May 23, 11:45am
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Statistics New Zealand says the cost of living for households rose 7.7% in the year to March 2023, boosted by higher rents and interest payments and increased grocery food, fruit and vegetables prices
New Reserve Bank mortgage figures show homeowners paid close to $4 billion in interest during the March quarter, while total scheduled repayments topped $6 billion for the first time since the RBNZ started publishing this data
1st May 23, 11:12am
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New Reserve Bank mortgage figures show homeowners paid close to $4 billion in interest during the March quarter, while total scheduled repayments topped $6 billion for the first time since the RBNZ started publishing this data
[updated]
A review of things you need to know before you sign off on Thursday; significant mortgage and business lending moves, big banks move savings rates, Kiwi bonds up, Air New Zealand is flying, National promises tenancy reversal, swaps move up again & more
27th Apr 23, 3:59pm
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A review of things you need to know before you sign off on Thursday; significant mortgage and business lending moves, big banks move savings rates, Kiwi bonds up, Air New Zealand is flying, National promises tenancy reversal, swaps move up again & more
ANZ says its latest ANZ Business Outlook Survey is consistent with the Reserve Bank 'gradually gaining traction' with its efforts to fight inflation
27th Apr 23, 1:15pm
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ANZ says its latest ANZ Business Outlook Survey is consistent with the Reserve Bank 'gradually gaining traction' with its efforts to fight inflation
And then there were two: Two of the major banks are now offering under 6% for three years as anticipation of future OCR cuts drives increased competition in longer-term fixed mortgages
27th Apr 23, 9:14am
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And then there were two: Two of the major banks are now offering under 6% for three years as anticipation of future OCR cuts drives increased competition in longer-term fixed mortgages
A review of things you need to know before you sign off on Wednesday; a little mortgage tweaking, imports winning the trade battle, tax, tax, tax and more tax, the RBNZ eases off on LVRs, trouble for Synlait, equities down, dollar marks time
26th Apr 23, 3:59pm
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A review of things you need to know before you sign off on Wednesday; a little mortgage tweaking, imports winning the trade battle, tax, tax, tax and more tax, the RBNZ eases off on LVRs, trouble for Synlait, equities down, dollar marks time
[updated]
RBNZ says the risks to financial stability posed by high-LVR lending have reduced to a level where the current restrictions may be unnecessarily reducing efficiency
26th Apr 23, 9:20am
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RBNZ says the risks to financial stability posed by high-LVR lending have reduced to a level where the current restrictions may be unnecessarily reducing efficiency