Positive employment signs drive NZ service sector up
New Zealand's service sector continues to grow on the back of positive employment signs.
Led by positive employment signals and an improvement in retail trades, New Zealand’s services sector growth has expanded in January this year.
The BNZ-BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index rose 2.7 points to 53.6 in January, the third highest recorded value for the month, with four of the five major sub indexes having expanded.
Doug Steel, economist at Bank of New Zealand, said signs that firms are willing to take on new workers for their organisation bodes well for the outlook for the economy, with service sector firms preparing for strong growth ahead.
“We suspect there is underlying improvement in domestic spending underway, supported by some improvement in the labour market,” said Mr Steel.
“Stronger service sector employment growth is part of this picture as is the latest lift in consumer confidence in February.”
The latest Performance of Services Index shows new orders/business jumped to 58.2 in January, up 0.4 points, while employment increased to 54.2, its highest level since November of 2007 and the third highest level since the survey began.
Activity/sales climbed to 53.3, while supplier delivers advanced to 50.6. Stock/inventories fell 4.5 points to 47.2, its lowest level since May 2011.
Biggest gains were observed in retail trade, which continued to show a strong result rising to 59.2, while the health and community services picked up slightly after a weaker expansion in December, on 51.9.
Wholesale trade continued to decline on 49 points and property and business services slipped further into decline on 49.5.
Regionally, Northern and Central regions both posted a sub-50 result for the first time since June 2009, while Canterbury/Westland and Otago continued to improve on strong sales, orders and employment.
Robert McCambridge
Mon, 20 Feb 2012
Mon, 20 Feb 2012
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Positive employment signs drive NZ service sector up
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