Robin Hapi
Buller tops BERL Regional Rankings in 2011
The Buller district was the best performing local authority based on the BERL regional rankings for 2011. This year’s report also ranks regions and cities, with Auckland the best performing region, and Tauranga the best performing city.
Economic Profile of the Hawke's Bay
BERL has conducted economic profiles for regional and district councils, and economic development agencies across New Zealand.
The Maori Economy - A sleeping giant about to awaken?
The Maori economy dates right back to the migration. When Maori settled New Zealand they carried an economy with them, as one example, bringing the kumara across the Pacific. As original resources ran out, Maori adopted a more sustainable economy, based on cultivating kumara and fern root, and a careful harvest of the forests, the seashore and the sea. Tribes (iwi) were self sufficient in most resources, but there was additional trade between iwi.
Retail sales begin to thaw
The latest retail trade stats are somewhat of a warm relief to the recent chill weather. Seasonally adjusted sales rose by1.1 percent in the last month. But the cool conditions may have contributed to the pick-up in retail sales. Clothing and softgoods sales in August had the largest increase ($14 million, 6.6 percent) across the 24 industries that StatsNZ monitors.
In the long run...
US economy heading for a self-inflicted recession?
GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2012 dropped by 0.1 percent according to the data release on 30th January 2013 by the United States of America’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). This was a very weak performance by the US economy on the back of third quarter GDP growth of 3.1 percent. Compared to the fourth quarter a year ago, which saw a 4.1 percent increase in GDP.
Deficit and international debt down, but for the right reasons?
The “good” news is that the current account deficit is down sharply, and that our net international debtor position is slightly less cringe-worthy than in March. But the main reasons for this are the stronger exchange rate, poor demand for imported intermediate goods, and an Aussie bank having to pay its taxes.
New building consents remain steady
In the three months to November 2012 there were 4,800 new residential building consents issued, while the 12-month total for the year ending November 2012 stood at 16,670. , Residential building consents were up 23 percent compared to the12-month percentage change a year earlier.
Structural Deficits Require Structural Solutions