New Zealand: Consumer confidence rises in February
Latest reading: Consumer confidence rose to 96.6 in February from January’s 96.0. Consequently, the index remained below the 100-threshold separating pessimism from optimism among consumers.
Consumers grew more downbeat about future conditions in January, but more upbeat about current conditions. Consumers also grew marginally more willing to buy large items. The still-subdued February confidence data fits with our panelists’ projections for only mild private consumption growth in Q1 as a whole.