Finance
New Zealand's business confidence hits highest level in 30 years, ANZ survey shows
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 19, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 19, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
New Zealand's business confidence hits a 30-year high, with 73.6% expecting economic improvement and 60.9% forecasting business growth, ANZ survey shows.
SYDNEY, Dec 19 (Reuters) - New Zealand's business confidence surged in December to hit its highest level in 30 years, with forward-looking activity indicators lifting again with some reaching multi-decade highs, an ANZ Bank survey showed on Friday.
A net 73.6% of respondents expected the economy to improve over the year ahead, up almost 7 points, versus a 67.1% optimism level in November, while 60.9% expected their own businesses to grow, versus 53.1%.
"Things are clearly looking up. Both past activity and past employment continue to strengthen, and sentiment about the future is improving as a result," ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner said in a statement.
"Tighter financial conditions could take a little wind out of the recovery's sails, but both interest rates and the exchange rate remain well off their peaks."
(Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
Business confidence refers to the degree of optimism or pessimism that business leaders feel about the overall economic situation and their own company's prospects. High business confidence often leads to increased investment and hiring.
Forward-looking activity indicators are metrics that predict future economic performance. They help businesses and policymakers gauge potential economic trends and make informed decisions.
Employment sentiment reflects the attitudes and feelings of employees regarding job security, job satisfaction, and overall workplace conditions. Positive employment sentiment can lead to higher productivity and morale.
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