Latest from Consumer Information

Buy Crikey: Amour is affection, expense is something else

The most romantic day of the year is a problem many men and women throw money at. Yet there are plenty of ways to save money on Valentine's Day and still be romantic.

Last minute love

It might be the thought that counts but when it comes to Valentine's Day, Kiwis are leaving such thoughts to the last minute.

Parents stung by scams

Parents are losing hundreds of dollars through fraudulent websites claiming to sell popular baby products.

Ask Susan: Accidental booking

A few months ago, we tried to make a booking for a holiday home via Holiday Houses. By accident, my wife clicked February 12 and 13 instead of January 12 and 13.

Buy Crikey: The patient shopper gets the best bargains

Sick of shopping? You shouldn't be. January is the time of true bargains.

The best mozzie repellents

Want to know which are the best mozzie repellants? Volunteers bravely exposed their arms to 50 of the pests for this Consumer NZ survey.

Power prices should fall: Consumer NZ

Consumer NZ says power prices for Kiwi households should fall after years of relentless increases including a 3% annual rise revealed in the latest official data.

Happy to fork out for stickers

Kiwis snapped up almost a million boxes of cutlery in the latest Countdown sticker promotion.

Festive spending by firms swells

Santa is prising open the purse strings at financially strapped Government departments and private firms to bring back some festive joy to office parties.

Mortgage woe looms

Homeowners who have stretched their budgets to get into the housing market in the past two years are likely to feel the squeeze as interest rates rise.

Buy Crikey: Stock the wardrobe with chain-store bargains

When it comes to clothes shopping, there are times to spend and times to save.

Big cost, little value

Kiwi parents are paying thousands of dollars to store their child's cord blood in a private bank - but medical experts say the evidence of cordbanking's benefits is hazy at best.

Cheeky prices for a pint

Recently released industry statistics show the country's pubs and bars have an average 100 per cent mark-up across food and drink.

Buy Crikey: Buy in season for best taste and better value

Are you gorging yourself on asparagus, strawberries and avocados? We are. They're in season and what's more, at their most flavoursome for the year.

Better times signal to hit shops early

Yolanda Alba has already started her Christmas shopping, and says she is enjoying a very positive start to the festive season.

Consumer spending rebounds

Consumer spending rebounded last month, led by purchases of durable items.