Economy

Cracker January for accommodation sector

By JAMES WEIR BusinessDay

Hotels and holiday parks enjoyed a bumper January with the overall accommodation sector handling a record 4.4 million guest nights in the month, with a strong rebound in foreign tourist numbers.

Retail sales recover in January

By ALAN WOOD BusinessDay

Following a disappointing Christmas for retailers, the month of January showed a national pickup with the total retail sales trend continuing to rise.

House prices inch higher

By JAMES WEIR BusinessDay

House prices nudged up slightly in February, rising by 0.4 per cent according to the Real Estate Institute's house price index.

Interest rates to rise 3pc by 2012 says economist

By JAMES WEIR The Dominion Post

House buyers on floating mortgage rates should plan for interest rates to rise about 3 per cent to about 8.6 per cent or higher by early 2012 according to a leading economist.

Manufacturing picks ups

NZPA

Manufacturing showed signs of slow and steady improvement last month, with the latest BNZ-Business NZ performance of manufacturing index (PMI) indicating a continuing rise in new orders.

Grocery prices fall in February

NZPA

Food prices fell 1.3 per cent in February, with prices for fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, and groceries all falling from January.

Terms of trade up in December quarter

NZPA

New Zealand's terms of trade rose an unexpectedly strong 5.7 per cent in the December quarter, as dairy product export prices went up despite a rising currency pushing down export and import prices.

Prepare for next economic crisis - IMF

AP

The world needs to prepare for the next economic crisis, even as it begins to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

Meat and dairy boost manufacturing sales

NZPA

Manufacturing sales volumes rose a seasonally adjusted 3.1 per cent in the December quarter, led by meat and dairy and other food-related industries.

Residential building picks up

NZPA

The seasonally adjusted volume of residential building activity rose 7.4 per cent in the December quarter, while non-residential volume fell 6.1 percent.