KEY POINTS:
Nationwide economic growth fell in the last quarter for the first time since June 2005, a new report shows.
While the South Island experienced a 0.2 per cent increase in economic growth, the North Island decreased by 0.4 per cent, creating a national fall of 0.3 per cent in the September quarter.
The National Bank's latest Regional Trends survey showed Taranaki bucked the trend, recording the largest rise, of 1.1 per cent, the only region to record back-to-back increases in economic activity.
Northland was the worst-performing region, with a drop in growth of 1.6 per cent.
Manawatu-Wanganui was the only region to record successive declines in the September and June quarters.
For the year to date, national economic growth rose from 2.6 per cent in June to 2.7 per cent in September.
- NZPA
