According to data released by ANZ - Roy Morgan on Friday, consumer confidence in New Zealand rose to its highest level in more than four years in December, and credit card spending data showed an increase in spending on non-essential consumer goods. Consumer confidence jumped to 101.5 in December from 98.4 in November. Data above 100 indicates optimism, while below 100 indicates pessimism. Mortgage loan holders are more keen to spend, ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner said in a statement. Zollner said, “Whether recent changes in interest rate trends will affect this sentiment, or whether the reassuring remarks that interest rates will remain low for quite some time... will continue to increase consumer intentions will be an interesting highlight for January.”

According to data released by ANZ - Roy Morgan on Friday, consumer confidence in New Zealand rose to its highest level in more than four years in December, and credit card spending data showed an increase in spending on non-essential consumer goods. Consumer confidence jumped to 101.5 in December from 98.4 in November. Data above 100 indicates optimism, while below 100 indicates pessimism. Mortgage loan holders are more keen to spend, ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner said in a statement. Zollner said, “Whether recent changes in interest rate trends will affect this sentiment, or whether the reassuring remarks that interest rates will remain low for quite some time... will continue to increase consumer intentions will be an interesting highlight for January.”