Westpac Smarts: Economic Update

The new year has seen New Zealand entering a tougher phase of the economic cycle. Household budgets are being squeezed and spending growth has slowed. At the same time, businesses are reporting softer trading activity and pressure on margins. It’s not all bad news though, with a continuing recovery in our tourism sector and rapid population growth helping to support demand.

Westpac Senior Economist Satish Ranchhod will discuss how the New Zealand economy has been tracking and the factors that will shape the economic landscape over the coming years. That includes a look at interest rates, inflation, and the state of the housing market.

Book your seat for our first Westpac Smarts of 2024. Please note this event is being held on a Thursday.

Format

12pm-12.15pm – Networking

12.15pm-1.15pm – Presentation

Speaker Bio

Satish has worked as an economist for over 20 years and is one of New Zealand’s leading inflation analysts. He led the Reserve Bank’s analysis of the Canterbury earthquakes and its monitoring of the global economy during the financial crisis. Since joining Westpac in 2014, he’s worked on some of the major challenges our economy faces, including the pressures on household budgets and issues related to the supply of housing. In those rare moments when the economy is stable, Satish is a film buff and grows chilies.