Mark Smith
Unemployment reaches highest rate in two years
Unemployment is at its highest rate in two years, while wage inflation is dropping.
ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith says the third quarter 3.9 percent increase in unemployment figures are to be… Audio
Economist says PREFU likely to show unstable economic outlook
Treasury will this afternoon publish its Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update - or PREFU - with much of the speculation being that it will paint a rocky economic picture.
It will outline forecasts… Audio
Inflation numbers reflecting tight labour market - Economist
New Zealand's inflation rate is expected to show its first decline in nearly two years today - but an economist warns price pressures are going to prove hard to quell quickly.
The Consumer Price… Audio
Covid-19: Kiwis spending large out of lockdown
Out of lockdown, but still restricted to Aotearoa's shores, New Zealanders have been spending up large.
Latest figures from ASB show a spectacular surge in spending this quarter.
A massive rise of… Audio
ASB suggests RBNZ fund banks, manipulate Kiwi if economy sours
Economists at ASB are planning for darker economic times and how the Reserve Bank might act to support the economy. Audio
The life and times of the mysterious Man in Seat 61
Mark Smith is the driving force behind the hugely popular seat61.com website. He joins the show to discuss his business and why he rates New Zealand's Northern Explorer as one of the top five train… Audio
Mark Smith on the Amsterdam heatwave
The Netherlands is in the middle of a blistering heatwave that has set new records for the hottest temperatures ever recorded. Journalist Mark Smith is on the ground in Amsterdam and joins the show… Audio
Modest wage growth expected, could see lower inflation
Wage growth is expected to have ticked up only modestly so far this year pointing to lower inflation and potentially prompting the Reserve Bank to cut the official cash rate as early as next week. Audio
GBP set for bumpy ride over week of Brexit votes
The British government's attempts to get changes to its Brexit deal are going down to the wire. Audio
Retail card spending picks up pace
Retail spending is ahead of market expectations, defying the gloomy outlook seen in recent business and consumer surveys. Audio
ASB says foreign house ownership up to 21%
Analysis by ASB has found somewhere between 11 and 21 per cent of New Zealand residential property has been bought by foreign buyers. This is quite a hike up from Statistics New Zealand's estimate of… Audio
Net migration has slowed
Net migration has slowed to its lowest levels in more than two years with a steady flow of Kiwis and non New Zealand citizens leaving the country and fewer returning. Audio
Unemployment edges down, wage growth remains muted
The labour market has tightened further, but there's been little change in wages. Audio
Consumer spending
Consumers seem to have been free spending in March, particularly for food and drink. Audio
Retail sales strongest since January
Retail sales have had their strongest growth since the start of the year, driven by higher fuel prices. Audio
Value of building work at 26 year high in Q4
The value of building work done in the final quarter of last year hit a 26-year high, according to official figures release today. Audio