Over the past year, spending by New Zealand households grew by 2.7 percent (excluding the effects of price changes). Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchhod breaks down what’s driving this.

Reports measuring everybody’s expectations for the coming Christmas and new year are starting to trickle in, and the news is likely to put a smile on retailers’ faces.

Household debt levels are now higher than before the Global Financial Crisis. Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchhod foresees these debt levels leading to an eventual reduction in spending.

Retail and hospitality small to medium sized businesses are growing at a faster pace than other sectors in the SME space, yet with that comes extreme competitive pressure. Of the retail and hospitality SMEs surveyed for the MYOB Business Monitor, 44 percent experienced a jump in revenue in the year to March 2016, compared to the national average of 37 percent.

Spending power has improved for the Kiwi consumer over the past year with interest rates at record low levels. Business commentator Warren Head picks apart the factors affecting retail shoppers, and takes a look at how Briscoe Group has remained so competitive.