Overall income growth static in June year as inflation rises 1.9%

New Zealanders' median weekly income from all sources rose by NZ$2 in the June quarter from the same time a year ago, while average income fell NZ$2, figures released by Statistics New Zealand show. Median weekly income for all people from all sources was relatively unchanged, at NZ$538, compared with the June 2008 quarter figure of NZ$536, Stats NZ said. This represents a rise of 0.4% while inflation (measured by the CPI) over the same period was 1.9%. Median incomes rose by NZ$18 (3.5%) annually to June 2008 from 2007 when inflation for the period was 4%. The median rose by NZ$34 (7%) to 2007 when inflation was 2%. Average weekly income from all sources fell NZ$2 to NZ$680 in the year to June 2009. Average weekly income from wages and salaries rose 1.8% between June 2009 and 2008. Here is the release from Stats NZ:

New Zealand Income Survey results for the June 2009 quarter showed income was relatively unchanged since the June 2008 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. The New Zealand Income Survey is an annual survey that is run during the June quarter (April to June) and provides a snapshot of income statistics about people and households. Since the June 2008 quarter, the number of people receiving income from government transfers has increased significantly (up 33,700), while the number of people receiving income from self-employment has decreased significantly (down 34,100). Males, people aged 65 and over, and those in the Pacific ethnic group all had significant increases in the number of people receiving income from government transfers. Both males and females, people aged 40 to 44 years, and those in the European ethnic group all had significant decreases in the number receiving income from self-employment. Since the June 2008 quarter, median weekly income from investments, for those receiving income from this source, decreased by $6 for both males and females, to $17 and $13, respectively. Median hourly earnings from wages and salaries rose by $0.77. Median hourly earnings for females rose by $0.78, to $18.22, while there was no significant change for males.