About
A senior journalist and news editor with interest.co.nz, David Hargreaves has covered financial markets and economics both in New Zealand and Britain for longer than he cares to mention.
David Hargreaves
Latest articles
Latest ANZ Business Outlook survey shows companies reporting a significant increase in activity - but there was a 'surprising' rise in expected costs as well
19th Dec 24, 1:28pm
16
Latest ANZ Business Outlook survey shows companies reporting a significant increase in activity - but there was a 'surprising' rise in expected costs as well
The deficit between what we earn overseas and what we spend has dropped to 6.4% of GDP, but remains at levels seen as too high by economists
18th Dec 24, 10:59am
14
The deficit between what we earn overseas and what we spend has dropped to 6.4% of GDP, but remains at levels seen as too high by economists
DairyNZ says a combination of higher income and reduced interest costs will result in 'a substantial increase in cash surplus' for the country's dairy farmers
17th Dec 24, 2:43pm
6
DairyNZ says a combination of higher income and reduced interest costs will result in 'a substantial increase in cash surplus' for the country's dairy farmers
NZIER's latest quarterly consensus forecasts see higher household spending on the back of interest rate falls, but GDP growth forecasts are virtually unchanged from the previous quarter
17th Dec 24, 12:01pm
21
NZIER's latest quarterly consensus forecasts see higher household spending on the back of interest rate falls, but GDP growth forecasts are virtually unchanged from the previous quarter
[updated]
Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes show continuing subdued pricing pressures - other than a spike in air fare and accommodation costs that 'coincided' with performances around the country by several global overseas artists
16th Dec 24, 11:38am
30
Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes show continuing subdued pricing pressures - other than a spike in air fare and accommodation costs that 'coincided' with performances around the country by several global overseas artists
Activity in NZ's services sector has improved, but still remains at contractionary levels, while manufacturing has moved further into contraction
16th Dec 24, 10:49am
14
Activity in NZ's services sector has improved, but still remains at contractionary levels, while manufacturing has moved further into contraction
David Hargreaves examines the upcoming GDP figures, likely to show our economy having contracted for five out of the last eight quarters
15th Dec 24, 6:30am
93
David Hargreaves examines the upcoming GDP figures, likely to show our economy having contracted for five out of the last eight quarters
David Hargreaves examines the prospects for a New Year that appears to offer a lot - but in both potentially good and bad ways
14th Dec 24, 9:40am
46
David Hargreaves examines the prospects for a New Year that appears to offer a lot - but in both potentially good and bad ways
Monthly retail spending figures were flat in November after showing the strongest rise in months in October
12th Dec 24, 11:33am
39
Monthly retail spending figures were flat in November after showing the strongest rise in months in October
Latest Reserve Bank figures show a sharp rise in the amount of new borrowing on floating rates, while among fixed rates the one-year term has soared in popularity
9th Dec 24, 1:32pm
17
Latest Reserve Bank figures show a sharp rise in the amount of new borrowing on floating rates, while among fixed rates the one-year term has soared in popularity
David Hargreaves sums up a year notable for getting inflation under control - but at great cost to the economy
8th Dec 24, 6:30am
123
David Hargreaves sums up a year notable for getting inflation under control - but at great cost to the economy
Fonterra raises what was already a record milk price forecast by another 50c and says it's on track to make forecast earnings guidance this year
5th Dec 24, 9:21am
10
Fonterra raises what was already a record milk price forecast by another 50c and says it's on track to make forecast earnings guidance this year
Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr is forecasting that the OCR will be cut to 3% next year and says rates were too high for too long
3rd Dec 24, 8:25am
64
Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr is forecasting that the OCR will be cut to 3% next year and says rates were too high for too long
Reserve Bank figures show $1.58b rise in bank mortgage stock in October; amounts on floating mortgage rates rose by the most in over 13 years
2nd Dec 24, 2:29pm
21
Reserve Bank figures show $1.58b rise in bank mortgage stock in October; amounts on floating mortgage rates rose by the most in over 13 years
Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold sees the possibility the Reserve Bank may start to raise the Official Cash Rate again as soon as 2026
2nd Dec 24, 11:49am
15
Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold sees the possibility the Reserve Bank may start to raise the Official Cash Rate again as soon as 2026
Latest ANZ Business Outlook survey shows the economy is still very weak 'but things are starting to turn higher'
28th Nov 24, 1:29pm
22
Latest ANZ Business Outlook survey shows the economy is still very weak 'but things are starting to turn higher'
[updated]
Latest Statistics NZ figures show there are over 35,500 fewer filled jobs in the country than a year ago
28th Nov 24, 11:38am
26
Latest Statistics NZ figures show there are over 35,500 fewer filled jobs in the country than a year ago
Reserve Bank increases its 2025 house price growth forecast; latest monthly figures show seasonally adjusted rise of 3.3% in committed mortgages; investors take biggest share of mortgage money since early 2021
28th Nov 24, 9:02am
159
Reserve Bank increases its 2025 house price growth forecast; latest monthly figures show seasonally adjusted rise of 3.3% in committed mortgages; investors take biggest share of mortgage money since early 2021
[updated]
The Reserve Bank cut rates as expected but surprised the markets with a relatively 'hawkish' view of any future reductions in the OCR
27th Nov 24, 2:09pm
170
The Reserve Bank cut rates as expected but surprised the markets with a relatively 'hawkish' view of any future reductions in the OCR
David Hargreaves says we should see another decent-sized cut to the Official Cash Rate in the coming week, but beyond that, all eyes will be on how the Reserve Bank sees things developing next year
24th Nov 24, 6:00am
88
David Hargreaves says we should see another decent-sized cut to the Official Cash Rate in the coming week, but beyond that, all eyes will be on how the Reserve Bank sees things developing next year
Following another strong dairy auction, Westpac economists now have the highest milk price forecast; ASB economists have also raised their forecast as a record payout for this season looks ever more likely
20th Nov 24, 3:05pm
1
Following another strong dairy auction, Westpac economists now have the highest milk price forecast; ASB economists have also raised their forecast as a record payout for this season looks ever more likely
Independent global economic researchers Capital Economics say despite their expectation the RBNZ will slash the OCR to just 2.25% in 2025 the housing market price recovery will be 'muted'
20th Nov 24, 8:45am
111
Independent global economic researchers Capital Economics say despite their expectation the RBNZ will slash the OCR to just 2.25% in 2025 the housing market price recovery will be 'muted'
Latest quarterly Household Expectations Survey for RBNZ finds households reckon the inflation rate will be 4.1% in a year and they're getting progressively less optimistic about their chances of finding new jobs
19th Nov 24, 3:35pm
27
Latest quarterly Household Expectations Survey for RBNZ finds households reckon the inflation rate will be 4.1% in a year and they're getting progressively less optimistic about their chances of finding new jobs
Activity levels in New Zealand's economic engine room remain at contractionary levels
18th Nov 24, 11:21am
3
Activity levels in New Zealand's economic engine room remain at contractionary levels
Fonterra chairman Peter McBride pushes the case with farmer-shareholders for why the co-operative wants to sell household name brands such as Anchor and Mainland
14th Nov 24, 2:07pm
12
Fonterra chairman Peter McBride pushes the case with farmer-shareholders for why the co-operative wants to sell household name brands such as Anchor and Mainland