Mike is BNZ's Chief Economist. Mike is passionate about using economic insights to help people and businesses make quality decisions that create a better future for our communities and for New Zealand.
A mid-year wobble
But businesses keeping the faith
No respite for retail, while dust settling on construction downtrend
A nuanced inflation outlook
RBN...
Concerns about wobbly economic demand reappear
Stirring these into the mix with already heightened housing supply suggests the slow pace of house price gains wi...
We lay out an economic FAQ of sorts, and take a stab at some answers
Questions and concern about erratic US trade policy understandably commonplace
As well a...
National housing market overall appears more balanced than oversupplied
Still, rising levels of unsold inventory are a feature of all regions, and particularly ...
April’s tariff chaos gives way to nervous calm
Trade war impacts on NZ still unclear, but high chance we pull back our 2026 growth forecasts
We still see eno...
We already harboured concerns about fragile consumer sentiment
Trade war fallout risks making it worse
Our consumer spending forecasts are thus on notice
...
The housing market continues to slowly thaw out
That’s in keeping with our views. We continue to expect a modest lift in house prices this year
Risks from he...
Economy continues to slowly right itself
But with a growing risk the investment cycle lags
Labour market showing signs of stabilising
Housing market force...
The ship appears to be turning, slowly
Dairy cash, retail stirrings will help
But conflict between future expectations and current reality remains
Another...