Economists expect next to no inflation when the December quarter consumer price index is released on Friday.

The signs are mildly positive for the dairy and beef sectors this year, but the outlook for sheep farmers does not look quite so rosy.

Car yards proved to be one of the more resilient segments of the retail sector last year, according to figures compiled by the Motor Trade Association.

The New Zealand dollar rose against the greenback, even as US stocks fell, in what may be a run of safe-haven buying that's also lifted the Australian dollar.

The price of dairy products rose 2 per cent in the first GlobalDairyTrade auction of the year, recovering losses through the tail-end of last year.

Shoppers took to the Boxing Day sales with gritted teeth yesterday, battling full carparks, queues and crowds to snap up bargains.

This has been another testing year for New Zealand businesses as they rock along the decade of "grumpy growth".

The New Zealand economy grew at a slower pace than expected in the September quarter, pushed up by increased building activity.

World dairy prices have risen in the last online auction of the year.

In one of the biggest commercial property deals of the year, New Zealand Post has sold two Auckland properties for about $33 million.

When plans to slash $25 million from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's budget emerged early last year, Joanna Woods' book Diplomatic Ladies suddenly became a lot more topical.