Latest FromEconomy
![Spring house prices surge 11.8%](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Spring house prices surge 11.8%
Auckland house prices have hit a new high and national sales volumes rose 11.8 per cent last month in a big spring resurgence.
![Fran O'Sullivan: Flexibility needed for trade pacts](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Fran O'Sullivan: Flexibility needed for trade pacts
Here's the challenge for Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key when he hosts President Xi Jinping in New Zealand next week.
![Stephen Diver: Mummy Merkel is here](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Stephen Diver: Mummy Merkel is here
This month we receive onto our shores the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, undoubtedly the most dominant political figure in the EU.
![Keeping LVRs dashes home dreams](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Keeping LVRs dashes home dreams
Yesterday's Reserve Bank decision to continue keeping a tight rein on residential lending has shattered the dreams of many would-be first-home buyers.
![Food producers must adapt: report](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Food producers must adapt: report
New Zealand primary producers need to be prepared to do things differently in a rapidly changing world if they are to retain their place in global food markets, says KPMG.
![Bank eyes curbs on speculators](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Bank eyes curbs on speculators
The Reserve Bank is eyeing measures to discourage speculators from buying multiple houses as it acknowledges its loan-to-value ratio (LVR) restrictions have favoured investors.
![Curbs on property speculators eyed](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Curbs on property speculators eyed
The Reserve Bank is eyeing measures to discourage speculators from buying multiple houses - acknowledging LVR restrictions have favoured investors.
![LVR restrictions to remain: RBNZ](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
LVR restrictions to remain: RBNZ
At least 4500 kiwis hoping for an end to mortgage restrictions will have to wait longer before they can buy a place, a financier has calculated.
![Home owners cash in on value hikes](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Home owners cash in on value hikes
Homeowners feeling flush after learning their newly-released property values are borrowing more from banks to splurge on new cars, boats and home renovations.
![Landlords outstrip new buyers to borrow](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Landlords outstrip new buyers to borrow
First-home buyers took out only 10 per cent by value of mortgages given by New Zealand banks in September.
![ANZ chief's pay rises to $4.7m](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
ANZ chief's pay rises to $4.7m
ANZ New Zealand chief executive David Hisco has enjoyed a solid pay rise, with his total remuneration lifting almost 15 per cent to $4.7 million.
![Open Country says expect reduced dairy payout](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Open Country says expect reduced dairy payout
Private dairy ingredient manufacturer Open Country Dairy has told its suppliers to expect a reduced payout in a range of $4.70 to $4.90 per kg of milksolids for 2014/5.
![Fresh records on Wall Street as US outlook improves](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Fresh records on Wall Street as US outlook improves
Wall Street climbed, with the Dow and the S&P 500 touching record highs, amid optimism about the outlook for corporate profits.
![Fighting fund to finance TPP battle](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Fighting fund to finance TPP battle
New Zealand businesses are planning a "fighting fund" for a pro-TPP campaign once a deal is finished and in the public arena, Prime Minister John Key was told.
![Aaron Drew: Private capital can help fund Auckland](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Aaron Drew: Private capital can help fund Auckland
Auckland is on the cusp of leaving its awkward adolescent phase to be a truly global city, at least on a par with big sisters Sydney and Melbourne.
![Russell Wills and Phil O'Reilly: Help families and we all win](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Russell Wills and Phil O'Reilly: Help families and we all win
The Prime Minister recently made two announcements which appear worlds away but are intrinsically linked: making child poverty his priority this term, and attracting skilled people to New Zealand to enable continued economic growth.
![Changes to LVR policy signalled](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Changes to LVR policy signalled
Loan to value ratios on bank mortgage lending could be in for a change this week when the Reserve Bank releases its financial stability report.
![Foreign worker limits 'choking tourism'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Foreign worker limits 'choking tourism'
Tourist operators say a chronic labour shortage because of problems hiring overseas workers could choke the booming tourism sector.
![Liam Dann: Great escape yes, but inflation not all bad](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Liam Dann: Great escape yes, but inflation not all bad
New Zealand has had a lucky break. We have come through a phase of rapid economic growth without generating any serious spike in inflation.
![Unemployed youths advised to take unpaid work](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Unemployed youths advised to take unpaid work
Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz says young people out of work should consider working for free.
![More eyes on the Herald](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
More eyes on the Herald
Latest readership figures show our combined print and online audience lifting to 844,000 readers a day and 1.34 million across the week.