Mortgage rates, income growth, and house sales activity: the three underlying influences on residential alterations and additions (A&A) activity – more commonly known as renovations.

Cost of living pressures are affecting all corners of society, and Budget 2025 included an expansion to the Rates Rebate Scheme for SuperGold cardholders. This article dives into the rates rebate boost, and looks at how many people might benefit in each part of the country.

Recent announcement about end of the Census have stirred more questions that we thought would pop up about this topic. Although some have raised concerns about the changes, it’s important to recognise that things have already changed.

The new Insights Hub is a centralised space that contains articles, webinars, short videos (Econ Talks), and reports prepared by Infometrics economists. Much of this content is publicly available but there is a premium tier as well, giving subscribers access to exclusive content.

The Government recently released its AI Strategy. Toi Mai CEO, Dr Claire Robinson, followed up by calling for an AI Skills Strategy. Here we look at what an AI Skills Strategy should look like.

Although volatility remains a central part of the global economic and geopolitical environment, international financial markets have shaken off the worst of their fears and are becoming less pessimistic about the outlook for growth.

The pace of supplier cost increases to Foodstuffs supermarkets increased slightly last month, with the Infometrics-Foodstuffs New Zealand Grocery Supplier Cost Index (GSCI) showing an average 2.1% increase in what suppliers charged in June 2025, compared to a year earlier.

After hovering at close to zero throughout the first half of last year, expectations for residential construction activity from ANZ’s Business Outlook strengthened from July 2024 – as did many other indicators in the survey of business sentiment.

Despite clear trade concerns globally, New Zealand’s primary sector is in a strong position, and high food commodity prices reinforce this strength. But Fonterra’s opening farmgate milk price forecast for the 2025/26 season provides a major signal of caution, highlighting the heightened volatility in global economic conditions, dairy supply dynamics, and trade tensions.

Tractors are often seen as a key piece of farm equipment, and long have been thought of as a good economic indicator of farm spending and investment. Despite the continued focus on tractors in New Zealand, and how they can act as a bellwether for the primary sector, in reality, things are shifting. Infometrics analysis shows that New Zealand passed peak tractor back in 2022, and they are likely become a less important indicator of primary sector activity as the sector shifts to different and more varied technology.