Consumer confidence ticks up in October

Consumers are feeling better about the economy. Photo / File

Consumers were feeling more confident in October, with their perception of their current situation the best it has been since 2007.

The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index lifted to 118.4 in October from 113.9 in September. The current conditions index rose 2 points to 127.8 while the future conditions index lifted 6.1 points to 112.1.

Of the 1,001 respondents to the consumer confidence survey, a net 20 per cent said they are better off financially than they were 12 months ago, up from 11 per cent in September. That was the highest level since 2007, ANZ said.

A net 29 per cent expect themselves be doing better in 12 months versus 23 per cent in September.

Confidence rose in every region, but most sharply in the North Island outside of Auckland and Wellington. Wellington remains the most optimistic region, and the South Island ex-Canterbury the least.

"Courtesy of a still-tight labour market and lower interest rates, households are feeling pretty good," said ANZ senior economist Miles Workman.

Perceptions regarding the next year's economic outlook for the country as a whole were also less negative.

A net 3 per cent are expecting economic conditions generally to be worse in the next 12 months, down from the net 10 per cent who expected things to worsen in the prior survey.

Respondents predict prices will rise an annual 3.3 per cent over the next two years versus 3.5 per cent in September.

Those surveyed expect house prices to lift 3.0 per cent a year over the next few years versus 2.8 per cent in the prior month.

The one "black mark" in the survey was a lower proportion of people thinking it is a good time to buy a major household item, which fell 5 points to 36 per cent.

Workman said the composite gauge of the business and consumer surveys "is consistent with our view that while firms are doing it a bit tough at the moment as the economy battles headwinds, the fundamentals for the New Zealand economy remain decent."

- BusinessDesk