New vehicle registrations helped Hawke's Bay record a .4 per cent increase in economic activity for the March quarter, compared to last year, according to the National Bank Regional Trends report.
Factors making up the report included an increase in registrations for new cars, commercial vehicles and tractors.
Paymark electronic sales volumeslifted 3 per cent, the second highest percentage increase across the regions.
Employment edged lower and registered job seekers lifted - the unemployment rate rose to 7.4 per cent in March, up from 6.8 per cent in December.
Business confidence eased to a two-year low as did commercial building permits, dropping 19 per cent.
Economic growth, compared with the preceding quarter, slowed across all regions, with Hawke's Bay recording 0.2 per cent.
For all of New Zealand, it fell .1 per cent to 1.2 per cent. The North Island, at 1.4 per cent, had twice the rate of increase of the South Island, at .7 per cent.
