30.01.202604:08:13UTC+00NZ Consumer Confidence Hits Highest in Over 4 Years

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence index rose to 107.2 in January 2026, up from 101.5 in December, reaching its highest point since August 2021. Notably, the percentage of households feeling it is a good time to buy a major household item—a crucial indicator for retail—improved by 2 points to +1, marking the first positive reading in nearly four years. The future conditions index saw a notable increase, reaching its strongest level since May 2021, at 113.5 compared to the previous 108.9. Similarly, the current conditions index increased to its highest level since December 2021, at 97.7, up from 90.4. Evaluations of current personal finances showed improvement as well, moving from -18% to -6%, suggesting that the surge in confidence is driven by actual experiences rather than mere expectations. Furthermore, a net 29% of participants anticipate an improvement in their financial situation a year from now. Economic projections for the upcoming year rose by 5 points, reaching -1%, while the five-year outlook improved slightly by 1 point to +12%. Lastly, expectations for house price inflation moderated to 3.7%, down from 4%, while the two-year inflation expectations remained stable at 4.6%.