Podcasts about stats nz

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 18th of August, Stats NZ data shows our inflation is continuing to cool, and there's finally some good news for the Port of Tauranga. Transport Minister Chris Bishop has announced yet another report on a second Auckland Harbour crossing. Former Shihad frontman Jon Toogood is back on the show to chat about his new book about his time changing the rock landscape in this country. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elections always come down to one simple test: are you better off than you were three years ago? We crunched the numbers across 20 key economic indicators to strip away the political spin. With prices up 17 percent and wages lagging, most Kiwis are feeling the pinch. Economist Ed McKnight joins us to break down who is actually winning and who is losing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A former butcher turned industry trainer says job prospects are strong for young people looking to get into the butchery trade. Recent figures from Stats NZ show more than a third of 15 to 24 year-olds are unemployed or underemployed, with jobs scarce. But Peter Martin, who's apprenticeships manager for 'Skills 4 work', says employers actively looking for qualified butchers and apprentices. He spoke to John Campbell.

AI might be contributing to our rising unemployment rate. Stats NZ data shows unemployment jumped to 5.6% in the June quarter, up from 5.3% in March. It's the highest rate in 11 years and higher than most economists had been picking. ABC Business Sales' Chris Small told Ryan Bridge when you compare the South Island's rate of 3.7% to the North Island's 6%, it seems like more of a white-collar problem than a blue-collar one. He says AI is filling a bit of a void for some business owners, which means they're not hiring as many people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI might be contributing to our rising unemployment rate. Stats NZ data shows unemployment jumped to 5.6% in the June quarter, up from 5.3% in March. It's the highest rate in 11 years and higher than most economists had been picking. ABC Business Sales' Chris Small told Ryan Bridge when you compare the South Island's rate of 3.7% to the North Island's 6%, it seems like more of a white-collar problem than a blue-collar one. He says AI is filling a bit of a void for some business owners, which means they're not hiring as many people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unemployment has risen again – and it’s worse than everyone expected. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate increased to 5.6 percent in the June quarter. That's up from 5.4 percent in the March quarter and it's slighter higher than most economists were predicting. So, what does that mean? Should we panic? Or is this just part and parcel of an economy in recovery? Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann is with us to break down the numbers and what it means for our future. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unemployment's reached the highest level in 11 years. Stats NZ data shows the rate reached 5.6% in the June quarter, up from 5.3% in the March quarter. Of the 166 thousand unemployed in this year's second quarter, almost a-fifth had been without work for more than a year. Herald Business Editor at Large Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham some economists think the rate won't fall again any time soon. He says some predict it'll increase to 5.7% and hang around at high levels into next year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unemployment's reached the highest level in 11 years. Stats NZ data shows the rate reached 5.6% in the June quarter, up from 5.3% in the March quarter. Of the 166 thousand unemployed in this year's second quarter, almost a-fifth had been without work for more than a year. Herald Business Editor at Large Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham some economists think the rate won't fall again any time soon. He says some predict it'll increase to 5.7% and hang around at high levels into next year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Construction Minister believes a picture is clearly being painted of a recovery in the sector. Stats NZ figures show new home approvals rose 19% annually to June – topping 40 thousand for the first time since 2023. More than 18 thousand consents were issued for standalone houses and 22 thousand for townhouses, representing increases of 17% and 21% respectively. Chris Penk told Mike Hosking consents are just the start of a building process, and although people can't live in them, you wouldn't apply for one without the intention to build. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A building material supplier wants to see the consents given to new homes turn into actual work. Stats NZ figures show approvals rose 19% annually to June – topping 40 thousand for the first time since 2023. Infometrics says Auckland and Canterbury continue to dominate, making up 80% of residential growth. Combined Building Supplies Co-operative CEO Carl Taylor told Ryan Bridge it's a positive sign to see houses being snapped up. He says the real measure on recovery will be seeing projects turn into work on site, which is the biggest issue at the moment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It turns out a lot is in a name. Stats NZ gave us the latest household living-costs price indexes. This is what we pay for stuff. This is the cost of our living or, as is more often than not referred to by the media and the miserable, the "cost of living crisis". In that name, "the cost of living crisis", lies a lot of our problems. And a lot of our problems lie in our attitude. The "cost of living crisis" no longer exists. It arrived in Covid and it roughly finished when inflation dropped back to a more orderly level. Now this is not to say things are perfect, or brimming, or bullish. It's just that it's not as bad as it was, nor indeed anywhere close. But we've decided the "cost of living crisis" has stuck. It makes us feel justified in moaning and it gives some political operators ammunition. The actual increase in our cost of living was 3.2%. That's actually not bad. It's not great, but it's not bad and just about in the Reserve Bank band. If you take out petrol, which has nothing to do with us, it would have been way lower. What was way lower was the interest rate costs on the mortgage. See, not everything is going up. We hear a lot about power and rates, and rightly so, but little about the mass saving that has arrived in our bank accounts by paying interest rates that by any historic reading are quite low. Like all stories your individual circumstances matter; how much petrol you use, what your income is, what industry you are in, what sort of pay rise you got, etc. They are in fact, the majority of people you know, doing fine. They have plentiful work, they are well paid, they have savings, take holidays, wish the power bill was cheaper but, by and large, life is decent and there is no crisis. It's getting close to the time that if we can get the war out of the way, the oil at about $70 a barrel consistently, and renewable power supply dropping generation prices, we will actually arrive economically at a pretty good spot. At 3.2% with a war, we are close to being maybe 2% without one. And that is what they call a sweet spot. All that's left is for those obsessed with the negativity of a crisis to recognise that it isn't. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis will like the inflation number that's come out. More importantly, she'll like the story that number is telling. Remember, her target audience is the squeezed middle. This is the battleground. This is the fight for the soft centre at the election: Labour versus National. These are the voters both parties are targeting. The Stats NZ figure for the year to the June quarter is 3.2 percent. Prices are up for the average Kiwi family. On the face of it, that doesn't sound like good news. But for the roughly one-third of Kiwis who own a home, aka the squeezed middle, the number is better than it could have been. That's because this figure is based on the Household Living-Costs Price Index, not the Consumers Price Index (CPI). CPI inflation is 4.1 percent. This measure is lower at 3.2 percent. Why? Because it takes into account the cost of mortgage interest payments. And the mortgage-interest story is a good one. On these numbers, mortgage interest payments are 15 percent cheaper. Just imagine how bad this figure could have been if interest rates hadn't fallen, or if the Reserve Bank hadn't had the headroom to cut rates. You can see where I'm going with this. If you're an average home-owning family with two kids in New Zealand, you know how important your mortgage is to your sense of financial wellbeing. The smaller it is, the better you feel. So Nicola Willis will see this number as positive for two reasons. First, she'll claim some credit for helping bring mortgage costs down by 15 percent. Even though that's largely the Reserve Bank's doing, she'll argue that the Government created the conditions that made it possible. Second, she'll blame Donald Trump for prices continuing to rise, which isn't entirely untrue. A third of the annual increase is due to petrol prices and that's tied to events involving Trump and Iran. This helps National because it's running this election not only on its own record, which, let's be honest, has been patchy, but also against Labour's record. It's playing the "don't put it all at risk" card and it's playing that card hard. You would have heard that from Nicola Willis on the show. The only problem with these numbers is that they're backward-looking. Yes, interest rates have been coming down but they're starting to climb again. Westpac has moved on fixed rates and you can bet your bottom dollar the other banks will soon follow. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rising cost of living is down to more than global uncertainty, according to one expert. Stats NZ data shows costs for the average household jumped 3.2 percent annually to June, a more than four-year-high. Petrol was the biggest contributor - skyrocketing more than 27 percent. Independent economist Cameron Bagrie says shocks like US tariffs and its war with Iran play a role, but core inflation is still higher than before Covid. "But there's a little bit more of a sticky persistent inflation - it's the obvious drivers like rates, it's your insurance, it's your energy bills, which the Reserve Bank can't control." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis will like the inflation number that's come out. More importantly, she'll like the story that number is telling. Remember, her target audience is the squeezed middle. This is the battleground. This is the fight for the soft centre at the election: Labour versus National. These are the voters both parties are targeting. The Stats NZ figure for the year to the June quarter is 3.2 percent. Prices are up for the average Kiwi family. On the face of it, that doesn't sound like good news. But for the roughly one-third of Kiwis who own a home, aka the squeezed middle, the number is better than it could have been. That's because this figure is based on the Household Living-Costs Price Index, not the Consumers Price Index (CPI). CPI inflation is 4.1 percent. This measure is lower at 3.2 percent. Why? Because it takes into account the cost of mortgage interest payments. And the mortgage-interest story is a good one. On these numbers, mortgage interest payments are 15 percent cheaper. Just imagine how bad this figure could have been if interest rates hadn't fallen, or if the Reserve Bank hadn't had the headroom to cut rates. You can see where I'm going with this. If you're an average home-owning family with two kids in New Zealand, you know how important your mortgage is to your sense of financial wellbeing. The smaller it is, the better you feel. So Nicola Willis will see this number as positive for two reasons. First, she'll claim some credit for helping bring mortgage costs down by 15 percent. Even though that's largely the Reserve Bank's doing, she'll argue that the Government created the conditions that made it possible. Second, she'll blame Donald Trump for prices continuing to rise, which isn't entirely untrue. A third of the annual increase is due to petrol prices and that's tied to events involving Trump and Iran. This helps National because it's running this election not only on its own record, which, let's be honest, has been patchy, but also against Labour's record. It's playing the "don't put it all at risk" card and it's playing that card hard. You would have heard that from Nicola Willis on the show. The only problem with these numbers is that they're backward-looking. Yes, interest rates have been coming down but they're starting to climb again. Westpac has moved on fixed rates and you can bet your bottom dollar the other banks will soon follow. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rising cost of living is down to more than global uncertainty, according to one expert. Stats NZ data shows costs for the average household jumped 3.2 percent annually to June, a more than four-year-high. Petrol was the biggest contributor - skyrocketing more than 27 percent. Independent economist Cameron Bagrie says shocks like US tariffs and its war with Iran play a role, but core inflation is still higher than before Covid. "But there's a little bit more of a sticky persistent inflation - it's the obvious drivers like rates, it's your insurance, it's your energy bills, which the Reserve Bank can't control." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a question/idea/opinion direct via text message!Residential property transactions across New Zealand have recorded six consecutive months of year-on-year declines. This week on the New Zealand Property Market Podcast, Head of Research Nick Goodall and Chief Economist Kelvin Davidson unpack the latest monthly Chart Pack data, revealing that first-half 2026 sales volumes reached 43,183 - down 4.2% compared to the same period in 2025. We explore why high listing stock and broader economic caution are keeping buyers and sellers in a stalemate, while noting that a lack of distress selling continues to keep the market anchored.The guys also dissect the Q2 CPI inflation release, which landed at 4.1% annually. While slightly above the Reserve Bank's revised 3.9% forecast, the print landed directly in line with commercial bank expectations. We break down the stark divergence within the data: tradable inflation spiked to 4.9% off the back of global fuel pressures, while domestic non-tradable inflation eased slightly to 3.4%. Furthermore, annual rental growth has slowed to just 0.5% - the weakest rate of increase in more than two decades.Finally, we discuss Stats NZ's official roadmap to introduce a monthly CPI release by August 2027, preview the upcoming July Home Value Index, and evaluate why the RBNZ remains firmly on track for an Official Cash Rate increase at the September 2nd statement.This week we discuss:Six Months of Falling Sales: Why H1 2026 transaction volumes contracted 4.2% year-on-year, missing early expectations of a 5% to 10% recovery.Regional Sales Dynamics: Analysing the rolling three-month volume trends, from Dunedin's 7.4% rise to Auckland's 7.8% drop.The 4.1% CPI Reality Check: Breaking down the Q2 inflation print and why headline numbers drive consumer inflation expectations.Tradable vs. Non-Tradable Divergence: How fuel costs drove tradables to 4.9% while non-tradable domestic pressures softened to 3.4%.20-Year Low for Rent Growth: What annual rental growth of just 0.5% means for residential landlord yields.The Path to September 2nd: Why the Reserve Bank is expected to push the OCR closer to its neutral target (~3.25%) despite weak consumer activity.Official Monthly CPI Roadmap: Stats NZ's timeline to transition from quarterly inflation tracking to monthly Tier-1 reporting by August 2027.Sign up for news and insights or contact on LinkedIn, X @NickGoodall_CL or @KDavidson_CL and email ngoodall@cotality.com or kdavidson@cotality.comThis podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The hosts are not licensed Financial Advice Providers in New Zealand. All information is of a general nature and does not take into account your personal situation or goals. Please consult a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.

You've heard it a hundred times: fewer Kiwis own homes than ever. But a listener asked us a simple question: is it actually true? So we went to the data.In this episode, Ed and Andrew dig into what the numbers really say about home ownership in New Zealand. You'll learn:Has home ownership really fallen in New Zealand? The slippery statistics you need to watch out for The regions where you're more likely to own your own houseThe answer? It surprised even the people at Stats NZ ... so much so that they double-checked it.Book a meeting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start your path to financial freedom with a detailed financial plan for $0.For more from Opes Partners:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

New Zealand is bringing its inflation reporting into the modern era. People will be able to access the data monthly from July next year, as part of a major upgrade to the country's economic statistics. Stats NZ says the move provides a more current view of price changes across the economy, rather than it being reported every quarter. Statistics Minister Scott Simpson told Mike Hosking we're catching up with the rest of the world. He says New Zealand is an outlier in this space, and we might be the only country in the OECD that has yet to report monthly. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes more regular inflation reports will mean more accurate analysis for businesses. From next July, Stats NZ will phase in monthly Consumer Price Index reporting, on top of the current quarterly reports. Statistics Minister Scott Simpson says it'll keep businesses, households, and decision-makers, like the Reserve Bank, better-informed. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge that we just have to be careful not to read too much into any one monthly change and start jumping at shadows. He says we want to look for the signal rather than the noise, but this is a step in the right direction. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Borrowers' pockets may feel the most impact from more regular inflation reports. From next July, Stats NZ will phase in monthly Consumer Price Index reporting on top the current quarterly reports. Statistics Minister Scott Simpson says it'll keep businesses, households, and decision-makers, like the Reserve Bank, better-informed. The Herald's Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham it will also mean interest rates can be more up-to-date. He says the Reserve Bank currently decide rates on a three-month lag. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 24th of July 2026 , Port Waikato MP Andrew Bayly tells Ryan why his members bill on toughening up child abuse reporting is important. The 2026 Commonwealth Games are underway in Glasgow, Newstalk ZB Sports Reader Andrew Alderson has the latest. From, July next year Stats NZ is going to report on inflation monthly instead of quarterly, Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Informetrics Brad Olsen tells Ryan how big of a difference this will make. Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on oil prices hitting $100 a barrel over night and Andy Burnham's new Government and what he's announced so far. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent data has unveiled a silver lining in the latest June-quarter inflation figures. Rents rose at their slowest rate, annually, in 25 years, according to Stats NZ. The country's stock of rents rose by 0.5 percent between the June 2025 and 2026 quarters, continuing the trend of softening increases that began towards the end of 2024. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent data has unveiled a silver lining in the latest June-quarter inflation figures. Rents rose at their slowest rate, annually, in 25 years, according to Stats NZ. The country's stock of rents rose by 0.5 percent between the June 2025 and 2026 quarters, continuing the trend of softening increases that began towards the end of 2024. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Consumers Price Index (CPI) has increased 4.1% in the 12 months to the June 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. As expected, the increase can be partially contributed to the US-Iran war as the largest upwards contributor to the annual inflation rate was petrol, up 27.5%. Finance Minister Nicola Willis is labelling annual inflation hitting its highest level in more than two years a “Trump spike”. Former Reserve Bank senior economist Michael Reddell told Andrew Dickens that economists don't tend to look at the headline numbers but they will be digging through the numbers to find trends. "It's a bit like the famous line about democracy, you know, it's not a perfect system, it's just better than any of the alternatives that have been tried, and inflation targeting is a bit like that as well. It's definitely not perfect." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Consumers Price Index (CPI) has increased 4.1% in the 12 months to the June 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. As expected, the increase can be partially contributed to the US-Iran war as the largest upwards contributor to the annual inflation rate was petrol, up 27.5%. Finance Minister Nicola Willis is labelling annual inflation hitting its highest level in more than two years a “Trump spike”. Former Reserve Bank senior economist Michael Reddell told Andrew Dickens that economists don't tend to look at the headline numbers but they will be digging through the numbers to find trends. "It's a bit like the famous line about democracy, you know, it's not a perfect system, it's just better than any of the alternatives that have been tried, and inflation targeting is a bit like that as well. It's definitely not perfect." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's cautious optimism from economists that inflation will start falling after today. Stats NZ is releasing CPI figures for the June quarter later this morning, which is expected to largely reflect the impact of the Iran war, along with other cost pressures like rates and utility costs. Economists expect it surge to somewhere around 4%. BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking that based on their forecasts, this should be the peak. He says next quarter BNZ predicts inflation to come down to 3.8%, before it tails away to be within the Reserve Bank's band in the middle of next year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economist says digging into today's inflation figures will reveal the real picture. Stats NZ is releasing Consumers Price Index figures later this morning - comparing prices between April and June, against the same period last year. Economists expect it surge to somewhere around four percent. Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge he's more interested in core inflation - which strips out food and energy. He says it's been stubbornly stuck on 2.5 percent and the Reserve Bank will want that lower. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belief sluggish retail spending is a reminder retailers need to stick to the basics. Stats NZ says core retail spending last month was only 0.4 percent higher year on year. Spending on clothes fell most - at 4.2-percent - its fourth straight decrease. First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge retailers have to be hungry in the market, with strong retail disciplines - but he understands it's tough. He says rising costs and distribution has made things challenging for retailers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a belief sluggish retail spending is a reminder retailers need to stick to the basics. Stats NZ says core retail spending last month was only 0.4% higher year on year. Spending on clothes fell the most at 4.2% – its fourth straight decrease. First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge retailers have to be hungry in the market with strong retail disciplines, but he understands it's tough. He says rising costs and distribution has made things challenging for retailers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public sector jobs keep on rising, even as the Government promises to slash numbers. Seasonally-adjusted Stats NZ data shows filled jobs rose 0.3 percent across the country last month - 0.7 in the past year. More than 6,000 public service roles were created in the year to May. ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says lifts in Government spending on health and education have translated into jobs. "When you do look at where the Government has been prioritising its spending, it is those two sectors - when you look at that sort of public service beyond those sectors, you have had a slight decline." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public sector jobs keep on rising, even as the Government promises to slash numbers. Seasonally-adjusted Stats NZ data shows filled jobs rose 0.3 percent across the country last month - 0.7 in the past year. More than 6,000 public service roles were created in the year to May. ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says lifts in Government spending on health and education have translated into jobs. "When you do look at where the Government has been prioritising its spending, it is those two sectors - when you look at that sort of public service beyond those sectors, you have had a slight decline." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Surprise over jobs in the public service rising, despite cuts planned by the Government. Seasonally-adjusted Stats NZ data shows filled jobs rose 0.3 percent last month - and 0.7 percent for the past year. The most jobs were in the public sector, with more than six-thousand jobs created in the year to May. Infometrics Economist Rob Heyes says there's still plenty of work to do in the public sector, especially in health and education. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pickup in retail spending shows some consumers aren't too phased about a tough economic climate. Stats NZ data shows core retail spending in May was up 2.8% annually – not including volatile sectors like fuel. Furniture, electronics, and hardware spending is up 4.8%, while hospitality spending is up 3.2%. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young told Mike Hosking that March and April were really uncertain, and consumers were concerned about the cost of living, inflation, and the Middle East crisis. But now, she says, people have realised we're in it for the long haul and need to get on with life and work out what we can spend. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis drinking less could hurt the Government tax take, according to new reports. Stats NZ data published last week shows total beverage volumes have fallen 10.7 percent since 2020 The Brewers Association estimates Treasury is likely overstating total alcohol excise revenue as much as $180 million dollars a year - up to 2029. Executive Director Dylan Firth says it's been overestimated in Budgets for the past five years. "They projected there would be a small dip after Covid, and then it would go back to normal, with slight increases over time. That just hasn't happened." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first quarter of the year has seen a boom in people coming into the country for business events. According to Stats NZ, international delegate arrivals are up 50%, with more than 16 thousand arrivals in the first quarter. That translates to more than $54 million into the economy and often represents the first taste of New Zealand for visitors. Business Events Industry Aotearoa CEO Lisa Hopkins told Mike Hosking numbers have now reached 96% of pre-Covid levels. She says January was exceptional, as there were a number of big conferences during what would usually be a quieter month. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beef exports are booming, up 12% annually. The latest Stats NZ figures show exports for April hit $8.6 billion, with meat leading the way – worth $1.3 billion. The US remains our top beef market, taking more than a quarter of our produce, representing a 54% increase. Special Agricultural Trade Envoy Nathan Guy told Mike Hosking US herd numbers are at a 70-year low. He says despite tariff uncertainty, the market's in great shape, given the US eats about three burgers per head each week. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis appear to be cutting back on discretionary spending as fuel prices bite. Data from Stats NZ shows retail electronic card purchases fell 1.3% last month, with Kiwis buying less or cheaper food and cutting back on their clothing budget. Non-retail spending on the likes of travel and health is down 4%. Infometrics Principal Economist Nick Brunsdon told Mike Hosking it makes sense, as these are more discretionary purchases. He says people are bound to spend less on holidays, or even at the dentist, if they're trying to make up the dollars to fill the tank. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of babies being born continues to fall, with the latest data from Stats NZ showing more than 1500 fewer babies were born last year. Danni Duncan has actively chosen to be child-free and has built a large social media following documenting that decision. Duncan spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Competition in New Zealand's economy isn't as strong as it could be. New Commerce Commission analysis of 22 years of Stats NZ data shows average business concentration has dipped slightly. However, smaller businesses are still struggling to gain traction against larger firms. Commission Chair John Small says weak competition in essential sectors is also weakening the rest of economy. He told Mike Hosking that while the size of New Zealand does have an impact on the amount of competition we have capacity for, we can still do a lot better than we are. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of 15 to 24 year-olds who don't have a job is rising, despite a slight fall in the number of unemployed overall. Stats NZ figures released on Wednesday show young people who are not in employment, education or training, also known as NEETS, has increased from 13.3 percent in December to 14.4 percent in March. There's one group of young people especially impacted, one in five women between 20 and 24 don't have work. Auckland, Wellington and the Bay of Plenty are the regions with highest youth unemployment. CEO Zainab Ali spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

There's hopes the Iran war won't bring a big bump in unemployment. Stats NZ data shows the rate reached 5.3 percent in the March quarter, down from 5.4 percent in the three months to December. Infometrics expect it'll rise again throughout 2026. Principal Economist, Brad Olsen, says they're not expecting any mass firings. "It's more that those hiring intentions are likely to be more subdued - i.e., businesses probably won't be as keen to hire into the future just because of how uncertain things are." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stats NZ released the latest marriage figures yesterday and they show a continual decline. 17,481 marriages and civil unions were registered in 2025, down 3% from 2024, and that was down from the years prior. The Australasian region - that's us and Aussie - also get married later, with an average age of 36 for men and 30 for women To get his take on why fewer of us are getting hitched - recently-ish married comedian Chris Parker is with Jesse.

Kiwis struggling to find work aren't alone in it. Stats NZ data due out this morning is expected to show unemployment's remained steady or risen slightly in the first three months of this year. It was already at a near-decade high in the previous quarter. ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Mike Hosking the jobs being created don't seem to be keeping pace with the number of people moving to New Zealand. He says they're expecting a marginal lift in jobs, but migration's also picking up. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New figures from Stats NZ show the number of marriages and civil unions in New Zealand has fallen again, down 3% in 2025 to just over 17,500. Kirsty Ussher, Wanaka and Queenstown-based celebrant and planner, spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Petrol station owners admit they are profiling people at the pump before letting them fill up amid a surge in fuel drive-offs. The war in Iran has sent prices soaring, with data from Stats NZ showing fuel prices rising nearly 19 percent for petrol and 43 percent for diesel in the last couple of months. Police say they've laid more than 370 charges over the thefts since last month, and are urging petrol stations to start using pre-pay only. But some retailers say that's not a solution. Finn Blackwell has the story.

Productivity's taken another hit. Stats NZ data shows a 0.9% decline in multifactor productivity in the year to March, and while labour productivity increased 0.8%, it was a result of hours dropping faster than outputs. Primary industries are doing the heavy lifting, with a 72% increase in goods and services per hour. Forsyth Barr Investment Strategist Zoe Wallis told Mike Hosking that productivity has been a long-standing issue – the current situation is about 50 years in the making, based on the data. We haven't managed to turn the slow-moving ship around, she says, which will take time and a lot of cohesive policy from successive governments. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A construction expert says customers could soon face price hikes of 25%. Stats NZ data shows petrol prices rose almost 19% last month, while diesel prices were up almost 43%. AUT Professor John Tookey says the industry heavily relies on oil for producing and transporting materials. He says the destruction of oil wells and processing facilities in the Middle East could take years or decades to rebuild. Tookey says, if it continues, there will be major problems which could become the new normal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest surge in fuel prices, and disruptions to supply chains - are being felt at the pump, but not yet at the checkout. Stats NZ is due to release its latest monthly inflation update on Friday. But new data from Infometrics and Foodstuffs shows grocery-supplier-cost-inflation actually dropped in March, from 2.3 percent to just 2.1. Vegetables New Zealand Chair John Murphy says told Mike Hosking rising costs are yet to translate into higher prices. He says suppliers appear to be absorbing the higher costs so far, but it's unclear what will happen next. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ report shows mounting pressure from agriculture, climate change and housing sprawl among other threats.Keiller MacDuff reports.

Data from Stats NZ shows that trust in our public health system has been falling for well over a decade. 35 percent of New Zealand adults invest in health insurance, many of you citing long waits and unreliability of the public system as the reason why. In a new paper published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, Dr Erik Monasterio examines whether we are rapidly moving towards the privatisation of health care. He discusses with Jesse.