The SME Stream

It's ugly, but New Zealand performed better than most. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Urban Planning senior lecturer, Tim Welch reveals why free public transport is better than $50 pay outs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"We’re yet to see the full impact of this conflict on the supply lines, and flow through to margins, prices and earnings." Garth Bray - 2 Degrees Wrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the word ‘crisis’ now comes talk about working from home. As oil prices rise and the cost of petrol surges towards $4 a litre, it’s been flagged as a potential voluntary measure in contingency plans. There’s been no direct government endorsement or mandate for working from home, but it’s been recognised as a possible fuel-saving step if the crisis worsens, alongs...

Independent economist and the chair of Transport NZ. What are we seeing across livestock transport? Plus, we look at the exchange and interest rates, inflation and the NZX50 down 7% in March. And what are the best and worst-case scenarios? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins Herald NOW to discuss the latest fuel supply data. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Middle East conflict continues on for another week, and it's led to economic forecasters revising their predictions for recovery. Significant cuts to growth, higher inflation, lower investment, household consumption, and higher unemployment appear to be on the cards, according to new reports.  HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says it's unclear how the central banks on both sides of the T...

General Manager KiwiSaver and Investment Funds Murray Harris discusses Kiwisaver contributions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It's the economy, stupid," is a catchphrase that means the primary concern of American voters is the state of the American economy and how that economy affects their personal finances. It was a phrase coined by a strategist in Bill Clinton's successful presidential campaign, and it's pretty much what Christopher Luxon campaigned on in 2023.   The Labour Government were, and I paraphrase, inc...

Garth Bray joins Ryan for the latest business update thanks to Forsyth Barr See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Banks' forecasts of an economic contraction in the second quarter are probably right, independent economist Cameron Bagrie says.  ASB’s revised outlook shows the bank expects annual GDP growth of 1.3% this year, down from its previous forecast of 2.9%, thanks to higher fuel prices hitting consumer spending.  It expects the economy to contract by 0.3% in the second quarter and expan...

All signs are pointing towards inflation going up - as the Middle East conflict causes business confidence to plummet.  ANZ's latest Business Outlook survey shows most firms expect costs to increase as economic insecurity sets in.  Most anticipate they'll raise prices in the next three months. Retail and construction had the sharpest slides in confidence.  Auckland Business Chamber...

New Zealand’s fuel suppliers will be “substantially punished” legally and financially if they don’t live up to their word in supplying fuel, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.  Those international companies had asked for the current just-in-time supply model, and “rightly or wrongly I took them at their word”, Jones told Mike Hosking.  “...

Economic headwinds coming out of the Middle East could set back the labour market. The number of filled jobs across the country lifted 0.3% from January to February. But where public safety, healthcare, and education hiring improved in the past year, construction and manufacturing jobs slumped. Employers and Manufacturers Association's Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking we're yet to see the impacts o...

The Government's looking at ways to keep hold of even more fuel than legally required.  Fuel stocks have risen as of last Wednesday, with 27.9 days of petrol, 21.7 of diesel and 25.3 of jet fuel in the country.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Government's now exploring more options to guard against supply risks "We want to be prepared if the worst happens and they can't get enou...

KiwiSaver is undergoing some reforms, and former Mercury head Fraser Whineray is hoping to make it more competitive with Australia.  The new changes are set to kick in this week, with the default contribution rate for both employees and employers rising from 3 percent to 3.5 percent. Whineray explained how these changes will benefit Kiwis in the long run. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/liste...

Herald business commentator, Fran O'Sullivan - "Global trade grew by 6% last year but they're predicting it will slow to 1.9% this year." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The general manager of PGG Wrightson Wool says the current global economic challenges are weighing on a market that has performed well over the past two years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's support for an India Free Trade Agreement remains tentative as it digs through the details.   Leader Chris Hipkins has written to Trade Minister Todd McClay concerned the deal's contents don't line up with the version he's presented.   Hipkins is warning it would be recklessly irresponsible for McClay to sign onto it without majority backing across Parliament.   But Deputy...

Garth Bray joins Ryan with the latest in today's business news See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Brent crude oil price is on track for a record surge as the conflict in the Middle East continues. Oil prices have been climbing all month as a result of the conflict and experts have raised concerns. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a long time, the kiwi dream has been to do whatever it takes to get onto the property ladder and work your way up from there, but some investors are moving away from that advice - instead suggesting that it might be a better idea to rent and put your money elsewhere.  It's not just the cost of the property and the mortgage repayments. You're paying to maintain the property in a way you wo...

Prices are going up.  Food prices are up, and will keep going up alongside fuel. Practically any goods that travel by land air or ocean to get to you will become increasingly unaffordable for the foreseeable future.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now, more than ever, it might seem like a good idea to invest in an electric vehicle, but does it make sense financially? Johnathan Sergel, the AA’s chief mobility officer, joins Nadine to dive into the costs involved with owning and running an EV, and how those costs compare to running a petrol vehicle. With rising fuel costs and EV sales surging, now's the time to do the maths and figure o...

Do you know exactly what you need to do but still can't make yourself do it? In this episode, I break down the real reason so many people stay stuck - and it's not laziness, lack of time, or not having the right plan. It's fear of success, and it's showing up as perfectionism, procrastination, and endless planning. I'll show you how to break the cycle for good with one simple shift. Stop planning....