![Spending in vogue as gloom lifts](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Spending in vogue as gloom lifts
Kiwis are splashing out on wining, dining and big-ticket items such as new cars and household furniture as consumer confidence hits a nine-year high.
Kiwis are splashing out on wining, dining and big-ticket items such as new cars and household furniture as consumer confidence hits a nine-year high.
Asian consumers increasingly viewing health supplements as "an investment rather than an expense" are driving growth in New Zealand's natural products industry.
Most households could easily cut their power bills by 10 per cent by making small adjustments, energy conservation experts say.
Consumers' plastic cards saw more of the light of day last month, but the trend suggests some loss of momentum in retail spending.
Over the past couple of weeks, households have been receiving nasty surprises in the mail.
Want to be dazzled by an unimaginable range of crafts? Then visit Etsy.com for a jaw-dropping experience. It has more than 25 million items for sale, writes Diana Clement.
Next time you're ordering wine with a meal out, don't be afraid to order the cheapest - it's probably the best value.
Solar power systems can save households money, but don't expect them to eliminate your power bill.
Sport, music and art fans have no choice but to front up for added charges to attend this weekend's event bonanza, as ticketing agents continue to tack on extra fees.
Pet owners are paying hundreds of dollars every year for insurance to ward off expensive vet bills.
The most romantic day of the year is a problem many men and women throw money at. Yet there are plenty of ways to save money on Valentine's Day and still be romantic.
It might be the thought that counts but when it comes to Valentine's Day, Kiwis are leaving such thoughts to the last minute.
Parents are losing hundreds of dollars through fraudulent websites claiming to sell popular baby products.
Sick of shopping? You shouldn't be. January is the time of true bargains.
A few months ago, we tried to make a booking for a holiday home via Holiday Houses. By accident, my wife clicked February 12 and 13 instead of January 12 and 13.
Want to know which are the best mozzie repellants? Volunteers bravely exposed their arms to 50 of the pests for this Consumer NZ survey.
Guys, do you plan to propose to your loved one on Christmas Day?
Three inexpensive sunscreens sold in supermarkets have come out tops in Consumer NZ testing.
A DIY approach to gift baskets will save you money this Christmas, writes Susan Edmunds.
Still paying for your mobile phone calls and texts? It won't be long before you're in the minority.
According to Toyworld, the top 10 toys for Christmas include back-to-the-future Cabbage Patch Kids, Furby toys, LeapPad Ultras, and Robo Fish.
Gourmet-isation of pet food is on the rise. Owners of pets, like parents of babies, are made to feel guilty if they don't buy the right foods.
Almost all Kiwis think third-party vehicle insurance should be compulsory, a new survey shows. But they're being warned: Be careful what you wish for.
As NZ television goes digital, independent TV channels are recording big increases in audience numbers - which can then translate into advertising dollars.
Buying an Angelcare monitor for their daughter gave Sarah Lorigan peace of mind - until she walked into her bedroom and found the cord wrapped twice around the baby's neck.
Santa is prising open the purse strings at financially strapped Government departments and private firms to bring back some festive joy to office parties.
Homeowners who have stretched their budgets to get into the housing market in the past two years are likely to feel the squeeze as interest rates rise.
When it comes to clothes shopping, there are times to spend and times to save.