New Zealand Consumer Confidence drops to 102.3 (down 7.6 points)
| Article No. 803 -
This Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating was conducted from September 22 – October 5, 2008, across New Zealand by telephone with a cross section of 1,106 people aged 14 and over.:
October 10, 2008 |
The early October NZ Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating is 102.3 — down 7.6 points from mid-September and off the recent six-month highs. The NZ Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating is now 13.7 points below the level it was in early October 2007 of 116.0.
The large drop in the New Zealand Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating was driven by large drops in the number of New Zealanders feeling now is a “good time to buy” major household items and also increasing worries about economic conditions in New Zealand as a whole over the next 12 months.
Just 39% (down 7%) of New Zealanders say now is a “good time to buy” major household items, while nearly half, 49% (up 10%), of New Zealanders say now is a “bad time to buy” major household items — the highest since early July.
More than half of the respondents, 51% (up 11%) expect New Zealand as a whole will have “bad times” economically over the next 12 months with only 30% (down 3%) expecting “good times” economically over the following year.
Comparing their financial situation to a year ago, 47% (up 1%) of New Zealanders say their family is “worse off” financially than a year ago compared to only 30% (down 1%) saying their family is “better off” financially than a year ago.
Looking further ahead New Zealanders are still more positive with 49% (down 2%) of New Zealanders expecting continuous “good times” for the country as a whole over the next five years while just 27% (unchanged) are expecting “bad times” for the country over the next five years.
Thinking of their personal financial situation, 55% (up 1% - the highest since early March) of New Zealanders expect their family to be better off financially this time next year while only 18% (down 2%) expect to be worse off.
Gary Morgan says:
“The New Zealand Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating has dropped 7.6 points to 102.3, the first drop since early July and by the largest amount since a 10.2 point fall in March despite a 0.5% cut in interest rates on September 11.
“The large drop in the number of New Zealanders saying now is a “good time to buy”(39%, down 7%) means the Reserve Bank must cut interest rates immediately by 1% to stop New Zealand sliding deeper into recession. If not the “good time to buy” will fall to Australian levels of only 29%.
“As the global slowdown intensifies, New Zealand must increase domestic consumption to drive growth and the best way to support the domestic economy is with lower interest rates.”
This Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating was conducted from September 22 — October 5, 2008, across New Zealand by telephone with a cross section of 1,106 people aged 14 and over.
For further information:
Gary Morgan: Office +61 3 9224 5213 Mobile +61 411 129 094
Michele Levine: Office +61 3 9224 5215 Mobile +61 411 129 093
Margin of Error
The margin of error to be allowed for in any estimate depends mainly on the number of interviews on which it is based. The following table gives indications of the likely range within which estimates would be 95% likely to fall, expressed as the number of percentage points above or below the actual estimate. The figures are approximate and for general guidance only, and assume a simple random sample. Allowance for design effects (such as stratification and weighting) should be made as appropriate.
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|
Percentage Estimate |
|
Sample Size |
40%-60% |
25% or 75% |
10% or 90% |
5% or 95% |
|
1,000 |
±3.2 |
±2.7 |
±1.9 |
±1.4 |

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Monthly Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating Figures |
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Yearly |
|
Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct* |
Nov |
Dec |
Average |
|
2004 |
135.7 |
131.7 |
130.2 |
133.5 |
129.8 |
130 |
134.4 |
132.9 |
133.9 |
135.4 |
135 |
136.1 |
133.2 |
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|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
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|
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|
Beg Oct |
Mid Oct |
Beg. Nov |
Mid Nov |
Beg Dec |
Mid Dec |
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|
2005 |
140.9 |
139.1 |
136 |
125.2 |
125.5 |
128 |
127.7 |
125.6 |
126.2 |
121.4 |
121.3 |
121.4 |
119.8 |
121.1 |
117.5 |
126.4 |
|
|
Beg Jan |
Mid Jan |
Beg Feb |
Mid Feb |
Beg Mar |
Mid Mar |
Beg Apr |
Mid Apr |
Beg May |
Mid May |
Beg Jun |
Mid Jun |
Beg
Jul |
Mid
Jul |
Beg Aug |
Mid Aug |
Beg Sep |
Mid
Sep |
Beg Oct |
Mid Oct |
Beg
Nov |
Mid Nov |
Beg Dec |
Mid Dec |
|
|
2006 |
118.3 |
123 |
111 |
115 |
115.1 |
116.5 |
115.7 |
116.7 |
104.8 |
112.5 |
110.8 |
114 |
115.4 |
118.8 |
112.1 |
113.3 |
115.5 |
123.8 |
123.4 |
124.8 |
124.0 |
123.3 |
128.2 |
127.8 |
117.7 |
|
2007 |
^ |
136.8 |
133.8 |
133.7 |
128.8 |
129.7 |
130.5 |
126.6 |
121.6 |
122.5 |
123.2 |
118.7 |
121.4 |
120.7 |
120.5 |
124.3 |
122.7 |
119.8 |
116.0 |
128.0 |
122.7 |
121.0 |
126.9 |
126.3 |
125.1 |
|
2008 |
^ |
121.2 |
117.8 |
114.2 |
116.8 |
106.6 |
99.7 |
100.0 |
92.7 |
85.6 |
85.4 |
87.5 |
82 |
85.7 |
87.8 |
94.9 |
107.3 |
109.9 |
102.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
99.9 |
| |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Monthly Average |
129.3 |
124.5 |
122.5 |
118.5 |
111.9 |
112.2 |
113.3 |
113.9 |
121.3 |
121.6 |
123.9 |
126.3 |
120.5 |
* The Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating was measured twice a month from October 2005
^ There was only one January 2007 and 2008 Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating
Results for the Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating* for the component questions (2008) are as follows:
| |
|
2008 |
|
|
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
|
| June |
July |
August |
September |
October |
|
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
|
Interviews |
|
^ |
1,930 |
1,033 |
1,016 |
983 |
1,002 |
992 |
1,047 |
1,101 |
1,081 |
|
| 987 |
900 |
1,119 |
1,074 |
1,036 |
1,034 |
1,031 |
1,020 |
1,106 |
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|
Q1 Would you say you and your family are better-off financially or worse off than you were at this time last year? |
|
|
Over the past year |
Better off |
^ |
44 |
46 |
38 |
40 |
36 |
32 |
35 |
28 |
28 |
22 |
25 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
28 |
27 |
31 |
30 |
|
| |
Worse off |
^ |
29 |
28 |
34 |
35 |
35 |
41 |
42 |
49 |
51 |
54 |
50 |
58 |
56 |
56 |
51 |
47 |
46 |
47 |
|
|
Question 1 difference |
^ |
15 |
18 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
-9 |
-7 |
-21 |
-23 |
-32 |
-25 |
-36 |
-33 |
-32 |
-23 |
-20 |
-15 |
-17 |
|
|
Q2 This time next year, do you and your family expect to be better-off financially or worse off than you are now? |
|
| |
Better off |
^ |
57 |
58 |
56 |
57 |
47 |
42 |
46 |
44 |
39 |
38 |
39 |
40 |
41 |
44 |
50 |
53 |
54 |
55 |
|
| |
Worse off |
^ |
19 |
17 |
16 |
17 |
22 |
26 |
25 |
28 |
32 |
32 |
29 |
33 |
33 |
28 |
25 |
19 |
20 |
18 |
|
|
Question 2 difference |
^ |
38 |
41 |
40 |
40 |
25 |
16 |
21 |
16 |
7 |
6 |
10 |
7 |
8 |
16 |
25 |
34 |
34 |
37 |
|
|
Q3 Thinking of economic conditions in New Zealand as a whole. In the next 12 months, do you expect we’ll have good times financially, bad times or some good and some bad? |
|
| |
Good Times |
^ |
37 |
36 |
32 |
37 |
30 |
24 |
28 |
24 |
18 |
19 |
16 |
16 |
19 |
19 |
25 |
35 |
33 |
30 |
|
| |
Bad Times |
^ |
32 |
38 |
40 |
36 |
47 |
52 |
52 |
58 |
61 |
60 |
62 |
64 |
64 |
60 |
55 |
43 |
40 |
51 |
|
|
Question 3 difference |
^ |
5 |
-2 |
-8 |
1 |
-17 |
-28 |
-24 |
-34 |
-43 |
-41 |
-46 |
-48 |
-45 |
-41 |
-30 |
-8 |
-7 |
-21 |
|
|
Q4 Looking ahead, what would you say is more likely, that in New Zealand as a whole, we’ll have continuous good times during the next five years or so — or we’ll have bad times — or some good and some bad? |
| |
Good times |
^ |
40 |
43 |
40 |
43 |
41 |
39 |
40 |
39 |
35 |
38 |
38 |
37 |
38 |
36 |
42 |
49 |
51 |
49 |
|
| |
Bad times |
^ |
22 |
25 |
26 |
24 |
30 |
29 |
29 |
30 |
33 |
31 |
32 |
36 |
37 |
37 |
31 |
23 |
27 |
27 |
|
|
Question 4 difference |
^ |
18 |
18 |
14 |
19 |
11 |
10 |
11 |
9 |
2 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
11 |
26 |
24 |
22 |
|
|
Q5 Generally, do you think now is a good time — or a bad time — for people to buy major household items? 1 |
| |
Good time to buy |
^ |
57 |
46 |
51 |
49 |
46 |
45 |
39 |
38 |
34 |
34 |
37 |
35 |
41 |
42 |
39 |
45 |
46 |
39 |
|
| |
Bad time to buy |
^ |
28 |
32 |
31 |
32 |
34 |
36 |
40 |
44 |
48 |
48 |
45 |
49 |
43 |
46 |
47 |
40 |
39 |
49 |
|
|
Question 5 difference |
^ |
29 |
14 |
20 |
17 |
12 |
9 |
-1 |
-6 |
-14 |
-14 |
-8 |
-14 |
-2 |
-4 |
-8 |
5 |
7 |
-10 |
|
|
Roy Morgan
Consumer Confidence Rating |
^ |
121.2 |
117.8 |
114.2 |
116.8 |
106.6 |
99.7 |
100.0 |
92.7 |
85.6 |
85.4 |
87.5 |
82 |
85.7 |
87.8 |
94.9 |
107.3 |
109.9 |
102.3 |
|
* The Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating is 100 plus the simple unweighted average of the difference between the percentage of respondents who give favourable and those who give unfavourable answers to five key questions.
^ There was only one January 2008 Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating.
Results for the Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating* for the component questions over the more recent surveys for 2007 are as follows:
| |
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
|
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
|
Interviews |
|
^ |
1,956 |
967 |
990 |
1,080 |
1,092 |
938 |
1,084 |
1,072 |
1,195 |
1,040 |
1,001 |
1,054 |
1,077 |
1,003 |
1,036 |
980 |
1,023 |
|
Q1 Would you say you and your family are better-off financially or worse off than you were at this time last year? |
|
Over the past year |
Better off |
^ |
41 |
40 |
44 |
40 |
43 |
41 |
42 |
41 |
41 |
41 |
37 |
39 |
37 |
40 |
42 |
41 |
40 |
| |
Worse off |
^ |
21 |
23 |
22 |
26 |
23 |
25 |
24 |
26 |
27 |
25 |
30 |
23 |
29 |
23 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
|
Question 1 difference |
^ |
20 |
17 |
22 |
14 |
20 |
16 |
18 |
15 |
14 |
16 |
7 |
16 |
8 |
17 |
17 |
15 |
13 |
|
Q2 This time next year, do you and your family expect to be better-off financially or worse off than you are now? |
| |
Better off |
^ |
58 |
56 |
56 |
55 |
59 |
57 |
52 |
52 |
52 |
50 |
50 |
48 |
50 |
51 |
52 |
53 |
51 |
| |
Worse off |
^ |
12 |
16 |
13 |
15 |
13 |
15 |
15 |
18 |
16 |
17 |
19 |
18 |
16 |
17 |
15 |
14 |
18 |
|
Question 2 difference |
^ |
46 |
40 |
43 |
40 |
46 |
42 |
37 |
34 |
36 |
33 |
31 |
30 |
34 |
34 |
37 |
39 |
33 |
|
Q3 Thinking of economic conditions in New Zealand as a whole. In the next 12 months, do you expect we’ll have good times financially, bad times or some good and some bad? |
| |
Good Times |
^ |
52 |
51 |
50 |
48 |
45 |
47 |
45 |
38 |
40 |
43 |
40 |
41 |
37 |
33 |
37 |
39 |
39 |
| |
Bad Times |
^ |
18 |
20 |
23 |
28 |
26 |
26 |
28 |
35 |
30 |
30 |
37 |
30 |
34 |
37 |
37 |
32 |
30 |
|
Question 3 difference |
^ |
34 |
31 |
27 |
20 |
19 |
21 |
17 |
3 |
10 |
13 |
3 |
11 |
3 |
-4 |
0 |
7 |
9 |
|
Q4 Looking ahead, what would you say it is more likely, that in New Zealand as a whole, we’ll have continuous good times during the next five years or so — or we’ll have bad times — or some good and some bad? |
| |
Good times |
^ |
52 |
53 |
51 |
49 |
50 |
54 |
47 |
44 |
45 |
46 |
45 |
46 |
44 |
40 |
47 |
44 |
47 |
| |
Bad times |
^ |
17 |
17 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
20 |
24 |
28 |
28 |
26 |
25 |
24 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
20 |
21 |
|
Question 4 difference |
^ |
35 |
36 |
28 |
26 |
28 |
34 |
23 |
16 |
17 |
20 |
20 |
22 |
20 |
17 |
25 |
24 |
26 |
|
Q5 Generally, do you think now is a good time — or a bad time — for people to buy major household items? |
| |
|
Good time to buy |
^ |
66 |
64 |
64 |
63 |
57 |
61 |
58 |
61 |
59 |
57 |
58 |
55 |
60 |
61 |
64 |
56 |
50 |
| |
|
Bad time to buy |
^ |
17 |
19 |
16 |
19 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
21 |
23 |
23 |
26 |
26 |
22 |
22 |
22 |
28 |
32 |
|
Question 5 difference |
^ |
49 |
45 |
48 |
44 |
35 |
40 |
38 |
40 |
36 |
34 |
32 |
29 |
38 |
39 |
42 |
28 |
18 |
|
Roy Morgan
Consumer Confidence Rating |
^ |
136.8 |
133.8 |
133.7 |
128.8 |
129.7 |
130.5 |
126.6 |
121.6 |
122.5 |
123.2 |
118.7 |
121.4 |
120.7 |
120.5 |
124.3 |
122.7 |
119.8 |
* The Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating is 100 plus the simple unweighted average of the difference between the percentage of respondents who give favourable and those who give unfavourable answers to five key questions.
^ There was only one January 2007 Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating.
| |
2007 |
|
|
|
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
Beg |
Mid |
|
Interviews |
1,010 |
985 |
952 |
974 |
958 |
1,028 |
|
Q1 Would you say you and your family are better-off financially or worse off than you were at this time last year? |
|
Over the past year |
Better off |
37 |
43 |
38 |
37 |
48 |
49 |
| |
Worse off |
29 |
24 |
27 |
29 |
28 |
25 |
|
Question 1 difference |
8 |
19 |
11 |
8 |
20 |
24 |
|
Q2 This time next year, do you and your family expect to be better-off financially or worse off than you are now? |
| |
Better off |
48 |
54 |
49 |
52 |
58 |
59 |
| |
Worse off |
21 |
16 |
16 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
|
Question 2 difference |
27 |
38 |
33 |
37 |
42 |
43 |
|
Q3 Thinking of economic conditions in New Zealand as a whole. In the next 12 months, do you expect we’ll have good times financially, bad times or some good and some bad? |
| |
Good Times |
37 |
45 |
40 |
40 |
43 |
43 |
| |
Bad Times |
36 |
26 |
29 |
27 |
27 |
29 |
|
Question 3 difference |
1 |
19 |
11 |
13 |
16 |
14 |
|
Q4 Looking ahead, what would you say is more likely, that in New Zealand as a whole, we’ll have continuous good times during the next five years or so — or we’ll have bad times — or some good and some bad? |
| |
Good times |
46 |
48 |
44 |
44 |
50 |
45 |
| |
Bad times |
24 |
19 |
19 |
21 |
22 |
21 |
|
Question 4 difference |
22 |
29 |
25 |
23 |
28 |
24 |
|
Q5 Generally, do you think now is a good time — or a bad time — for people to buy major household items? |
| |
Good time to buy |
52 |
57 |
56 |
51 |
55 |
54
|
| |
Bad time to buy |
30 |
22 |
23 |
27 |
27 |
28 |
|
Question 5 difference |
22 |
35 |
33 |
24 |
28 |
26 |
|
Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating |
116.0 |
128.0 |
122.7 |
121.0 |
126.9 |
126.3 |
*The Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating is 100.0 plus the simple unweighted average of the difference between the percentage of respondents who give favourable and those who give unfavourable answers to five key questions.
|