New Zealand ANZ Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Index

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence index rose 5 points to 98.3 in April, the highest reading since December, reinforcing a recovery trend that had begun to falter. Gains were broad-based, with both the current conditions index and the future conditions index climbing 6 and 4 points, respectively. Perceptions of personal financial situations improved significantly, rising 8 points, while a net 23% of respondents expect to be better off next year, up 7 points. Although sentiment around purchasing major household items improved by 5 points, it remains subdued at a net -11%, signaling ongoing retail weakness. Inflation expectations spiked 0.5 points to 4.7%, the highest since July 2023, likely influenced by global tariff discussions, though the domestic inflationary impact in New Zealand is expected to be limited. Overall, the lift in consumer confidence reflects improved optimism, but elevated inflation expectations could complicate the broader economic outlook.