NZ service sector activity keeps expanding in January, driven by new orders
Feb. 17 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand services sector activity, which accounts for about two thirds of the economy,
expanded for a ninth month in January, underpinned by a six-and-a-half year high in new orders.
The BNZ-BusinessNZ performance of services index increased 0.5 points to 58.1, the highest level since November 2007,
and was up from 53.3 a year earlier. A reading of 50 or higher indicates the sector is in expansion, while a reading
below 50 indicates a contraction.
The PSI was led by new orders/business with a reading of 66.1, its highest level since June 2007, followed by
activity/sales with a reading of 63.2. Employment rose 2.6 points to 55.2. Supplier deliveries fell into contraction
with a reading of 47.7 from 52.9 in December, as did stocks/inventories with 45.6, down from 54.2.
“The surge in new orders fits with the other story of the latest PSI, that of inventory slimming at a rate of knots,”
BNZ economist Craig Ebert said in his note. “In short, service sector firms look to be caught short on this account.”
Still, Ebert said that was a sign of “surprisingly strong upswing in demand.”
The seasonally adjusted BNZ-BusinessNZ performance of composite index, which combines the PSI with the performance of
manufacturing index, increased 0.2 points to 57.9 on a GDP-weighted basis, and was up 0.4 points to 57.4 on a
free-weighted basis.
Today’s PSI showed Otago/Southland had the fastest expansion at 60.2, followed by 57.9 in the Northern region, while
Canterbury/Westland was at 50.1. The Central region experienced its first contraction since March with a reading of
48.6.
Retail trade remained the most positive sub-sector at 66.3, followed by wholesale trade at 62.1 and accommodation, cafes
and restaurants at 61.4. Property and business services reported a 52.2 reading and transport and storage 50.1. Health
and community services activity showed a contraction at 44.7, due to the summer holiday break.
(BusinessDesk)