NZ consumers reasonably upbeat to kick off 2019

People are still willing to make big-ticket purchases. Photo / 123RF

New Zealand consumers remained reasonably upbeat as they kicked off 2019, with more people feeling optimistic about their current finances and still willing to make big-ticket purchases.

The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index dipped 0.2 of a point to 121.7 in January, marginally above its historical average. People were more optimistic about their current situation than what the future may bring, with the current conditions index up 0.6 of a point to 124.2, while the future conditions index decreased 0.7 of a point to 120.1.

"Consumers are feeling pretty good about things, with some concerns about the overall economic outlook, but slightly above-average confidence regarding their own situations," ANZ Bank New Zealand chief economist Sharon Zollner said.

Of the 1,000 people surveyed, a net 12 per cent said they were financially better off now than a year ago, an improvement on the net 11 per cent in December. However, their expectations for their own finances in a year's time slipped to a net 29 per cent saying they expect to be doing better, down from a net 30 per cent.

Unlike business confidence surveys, consumer sentiment has remained relatively robust since the formation of the Labour-led coalition government in late 2017, with robust jobs growth and targeted support packages for low-income families.

An employee confidence survey earlier this month showed people were confident in the labour market, although they're still waiting for higher wages.

A net 36 per cent of respondents see now as a good time to buy a major household item, unchanged from December. Zollner said that appetite was consistent with spending, although slowing population growth would rein in the retail sector, she said.

Retailers have noted relatively subdued spending through the Christmas and New Year period, while Air New Zealand this week said the domestic travel market was slowing down when the national carrier downgraded its annual earnings.

Reserve Bank data this month showed domestic credit card billings fell a seasonally adjusted 0.7 per cent to $3.82 billion in December, and that balances outstanding at the end of the month shrank 0.5 per cent to $7.68b, the first monthly decline since March 2017. Despite that deleveraging, 32.3 per cent of total credit limits was outstanding at the end of the month, the highest proportion since the Reserve Bank started collecting that data more than a decade ago.

The ANZ-Roy Morgan survey today showed people are less optimistic about the economy's immediate fortunes. A net 12 per cent expect better economic conditions in the next 12 months, down from 14 per cent in December. They're more upbeat for the longer-term, with a net 20 per cent predicting a rosier economy over the next five years, up from a net 18 per cent.

Zollner said the consumer and business confidence surveys indicate the marked slowdown in the economy has found a floor.

"We see growth of around 2½ percent for the next couple of years, with consumption supported by the strong labour market, but capped by weaker population growth, high household debt and a flat-to-weaker Auckland housing market."

Inflation expectations were pared back, with respondents predicting annual consumer price inflation of 3.5 per cent for the next two years, down from 4.2 per cent in December, and house price inflation of 2.7 per cent over the same period, down from 2.9 per cent.