Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Consumer confidence in New Zealand showed signs of recovery in September, according to the latest ANZ-Roy Morgan data released on Friday. The index climbed to 94.6 from 92.0 in August, reflecting a modest improvement in sentiment. While the reading remains below the neutral 100 threshold—which separates optimism from pessimism—the upward movement suggests that households are beginning to feel some relief as monetary policy shifts.
The improvement comes as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s easing measures start to filter through the economy. Lower interest rates are gradually reducing financial pressure on households, encouraging spending and investment. ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner noted that while challenges remain, the economic outlook is beginning to brighten. “It’s not all doom and gloom out there,” she said. “Easier monetary policy is starting to feed through, and we expect the economy to put in a markedly improved performance over the next 12 months than the last – though that isn’t saying a lot, to be fair.”
Consumer confidence is a crucial indicator of economic health, often influencing spending habits and overall growth. Although New Zealand’s economy has faced headwinds from global uncertainty, high living costs, and weaker growth in recent quarters, the latest data suggests cautious optimism. Rising confidence may help fuel domestic demand, which in turn supports business activity and job creation.
Economists caution, however, that sentiment remains subdued compared to historical averages, and sustained recovery will depend on broader economic conditions, including wage growth, housing market stability, and global trade performance. Still, the September uptick indicates that policy efforts are beginning to yield results, offering a more hopeful outlook for households and businesses in the coming year.
At 94.6, New Zealand’s consumer confidence is not yet signaling widespread optimism, but the steady improvement marks an important step toward stabilizing the economy and restoring growth momentum.
