New Zealand April consumer confidence 84.4 (prior 77.9)

ANZ remarks:

• Consumer confidence lifted 6 points in April to 84.4, off its record low but still extremely pessimistic.
• The proportion of people who believe it is a good time to buy a major household item inched 3 points higher to a still-grim -23.
• Inflation Inflation Inflation is defined as a quantitative measure of the rate in which the average price level of goods and services in an economy or country increases over a period of time. It is the rise in the general level of prices where a given currency effectively buys less than it did in prior periods.In terms of assessing the strength or currencies, and by extension foreign exchange, inflation or measures of it are extremely influential. Inflation stems from the overall creation of money. This money is m Inflation is defined as a quantitative measure of the rate in which the average price level of goods and services in an economy or country increases over a period of time. It is the rise in the general level of prices where a given currency effectively buys less than it did in prior periods.In terms of assessing the strength or currencies, and by extension foreign exchange, inflation or measures of it are extremely influential. Inflation stems from the overall creation of money. This money is m Read this Term expectations fell back to 5.6%.

ANZ add, in a bleak sort of outlook:

• On the face of it, the sorry state of consumer confidence is surprising in the context of a record-low unemployment rate.
• But apart from strong job security, households are under the pump. Omicron remains a threat. Very high inflation, particularly in necessities, means for the vast majority of people real incomes are going backwards. Those with debt are looking at sharply higher servicing costs. And those with savings are looking at deeper negative real returns on low-risk investments as inflation outpaces interest rate increases – not to mention wobbly global equities Equities Equities can be defined as stocks or shares in a company that investors can buy or sell. For example, when you buy a stock, you are purchasing equity, thereby becoming a partial owner of shares in a specific company or fund.Equities do not pay a fixed interest rate, and as such are not considered guaranteed income. Consequently, equity markets are often associated with risk.When a company issues bonds, it’s taking loans from buyers. When a company offers shares, on the other hand, it’s selling p Equities can be defined as stocks or shares in a company that investors can buy or sell. For example, when you buy a stock, you are purchasing equity, thereby becoming a partial owner of shares in a specific company or fund.Equities do not pay a fixed interest rate, and as such are not considered guaranteed income. Consequently, equity markets are often associated with risk.When a company issues bonds, it’s taking loans from buyers. When a company offers shares, on the other hand, it’s selling p Read this Term, losses on bond investments, and falling house prices. No one is immune.

New Zealand PM Ardern: