New Zealand's merchant trade surplus reached $339 million in February.

Retail spending on electronic cards rose for a 10th straight month in February, led by an increase in consumables.

New Zealand wholesale trade dips in fourth quarter on decline in basic material products.

Total building activity increased to its highest level since records began 26 years ago.

New Zealand saw a new record net gain in migrants of 65,900 in the year to January, driven by increased arrivals from Asia and Australia.

Food prices rose 2 per cent in January, the biggest monthly increase in two and a half years.

INTERACTIVE: Unemployment rates have fallen to the lowest level since recession but not everyone is feeling the benefits.

The unemployment rate has unexpectedly fallen to a six year low of 5.3 per cent.

Figures show more people are moving from Australia to New Zealand than vice versa.

On average there were 37 building consents for new dwellings consented in Auckland every day last year.

INTERACTIVE: A dramatic spike in the number of businesses dealing with real estate closing has taken the industry by surprise.

Fresh milk, chicken and groceries prices all dropped significantly in 2015.

New Zealanders spent a record $6b shopping in December, the highest ever monthly figure recorded by Statistics New Zealand.

Renting has become more common while the number of dwellings that are owner-occupied is decreasing.

Migration flows into New Zealand continue to surge, with the latest figures from Statistics New Zealand showing a net gain of 6300 migrants last month.

More people arrived in New Zealand from Australia for the first time since 1991.

Unemployment rate rises to 6 per cent - the first rise in three years.

New Zealand's annual net migration rose to a record in August as Indian and Chinese students continued to flock to courses offered by local educational institutions.

Our economy grew - but less than expected in the second quarter of the year, as agriculture and mining recovered.

Last month saw the highest number of new dwellings consented in a month since March 2005.

The country's trade deficit was smaller than expected in July as exports of fruit and meat drove overseas sales higher.

Guest nights fell across all accommodation sectors except backpacker stays.

The jobless rate is up as the number of new jobs created fails to keep pace with an expanding population.

The Government says a new plan to lure migrants away from Auckland will boost regional economies, but admits it will do little to ease Auckland's housing pressures.

Migrant arrivals climbed 15 percent to 115,700 in the year, while departures fell 8.1 percent to 57,400.

The average price for 2 litres of blue-top milk was $3.36 in June, down 9.4 per cent from its peak in November 2014.

The boost was fuelled by a rebound in both domestic and international travellers and a lift in South Island and hotel park stays.

The economy has started to slow, with confidence declining as dairy prices remain lower for longer.

An analysis released by Statistics New Zealand found tens of thousands of Kiwis don't go home to a traditional house.