Christmas hamper provider Chrisco is facing a likely court appearance for alleged breaches of the Fair Trading Act.

Bill English says the long term outlook for the NZ economy is good, but the recovery will be flatter in the short term.

The value of seasonally adjusted total retail sales rose 0.8 per cent - $133m - in the September quarter, Statistics NZ says.

The economic recession and increasing awareness about environmental and ethical concerns have spurred many in the fashion industry to look more closely at its image.

If you have a taste for the high life, now's the time to bag a bargain - supermarkets and wine retailers are staging a "champagne war".