01.10.202623:18:37UTC+00New Zealand Consumer Mood Weakens Slightly

The ANZ–Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Index edged down to 97.6 in September 2026, remaining below the neutral 100 level but standing 17 points above its low in April. The proportion of households saying it is a good time to buy a major household item—a key gauge of retail demand—rose 5 points to -7, indicating that retail conditions remain difficult.

Two-year inflation expectations eased by 0.2 percentage points to 4.5%, while house price expectations dipped slightly to 2.4% from 2.5%. The future conditions index fell to 104.5 from 107.7 but stayed above the neutral 100 mark for the third consecutive month. In contrast, the current conditions index rose to 87.3 from 83.4, and views on current personal finances improved (to -19% from -21%).

Short-term economic expectations softened, with the outlook for the year ahead weakening from -12% to -16%. The five-year economic outlook also declined, slipping 3 points to +10%. Nevertheless, a net 7% of respondents expected to be better off this time next year—an improvement of 5 percentage points.