The New Zealand dollar may extend its decline this week as investors, nervous about the slow progress being made on Europe's escalating sovereign debt crisis, sell growth-linked currencies for the relative safety of the greenback.

It seems rural women are ahead of their city sisters in the domestic goddess stakes by a country mile - on paper at least.

NZ's current account deficit was $2 billion in the three months ended June 30, up from $1.53 billion in the first quarter.

Prices for goods and services produced in this country rose 1.4 per cent in the June quarter from the previous three months.

New Zealand's trade surplus was $230m in June, missing forecasts and pushing the kiwi dollar down by almost a third of a cent.

NZ inflation accelerated more than expected in the second quarter, on prices of fuel, food and power, pushing the annual rate to a 21-year high of 5.3 per cent. It increases the prospect of a rate rise later this year.

GDP growth twice as strong as forecasters picked despite earthquake

New Zealand's economy kicked off 2011 with a bang, growing at twice the forecast pace and the fastest since December 2009 as a resurgent manufacturing sector drove the nation's revival in the face of Canterbury's earthquakes.

The Queensland floods are being blamed for a massive increase in the cost of tomatoes, capsicums and cucumber during June. While meat, poultry, and fish prices fell from their peak in May, fruit and vege surged...

New Zealand's trade balance was $605 million in surplus last month, falling short of expectations by $375 million and dragging the kiwi dollar lower.