Buoyant rural sector stokes consumer confidence

Photo / Herald On Sunday

New Zealanders are feeling more inclined to reach for their wallets as increased job opportunities and a buoyant rural sector stoke confidence.

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 9 points to 112.5 in June. The current conditions index rose 8.1 points to 99.6, just short of the neutral level, while the future conditions index climbed 10 points to 121.2.

"An improving labour market and strong rural income growth are no doubt key factors behind the improving sentiment," said ANZ New Zealand head of market economics and strategy Khoon Goh in his report.

"The government's austere budget 2011 does not appear to have had much of an impact on consumer confidence, perhaps with the exception of those in Wellington" which faces a pared back public sector, he said.

New Zealand producers have been enjoying record-high prices for raw materials in the past seven months, underpinned by a rebound in milk prices which are set to see dairy farmers receive their biggest payment from Fonterra Cooperative Group ever.

The survey comes hot on the heels of better-than-expected retail sales in the first three months of the year, with the biggest increase in vehicle-related spending, including rising petrol prices.

Still, spending on credit and debit cards slipped in May, according to government data, as households eschew new debt and pay down existing loans.

A net 16 per cent of 1030 respondents said there were worse off financial now than they were a year ago, though that's an improvement on the net 26 per cent of pessimists in May.

A net 29 per cent of respondents predict they'll be better off 12 months from now, a lift of 9 percentage points.

A net 3 per cent of respondents are picking the nation's economy faces tougher times over the next 12 months, an improvement from a net 16 per cent of pessimists a month ago, and a net 38 per cent expect good times over the next five years, up 8 points from a month ago.

A net 15 per cent of people surveyed think now's a good time to buy a major appliance, up from 9 per cent in May.

Consumers' inflation expectations for the next two years fell to 3.2 per cent from 3.6 per cent.