Tag: Data Analysis

Local News, Mike Treen

Data 3: Prices are still rising – it’s a cost of living crisis

By Mike Treen, Retired Union Advocate New Zealand’s consumers price index increased 4 per cent in the 12 months to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ April 17. This was higher than the Reserve Bank prediction of 3.8%. The 4 per cent increase follows a 4.7 per cent increase in the 12 months to the December 2023 quarter. ”Price increases … Continue reading Data 3: Prices are still rising – it’s a cost of living crisis

Unknown's avatarMike Treen
Local News, Mike Treen

Data 2: Why we are officially in recession

By Mike Treen, Retired Union Advocate The economy of New Zealand is officially in recession. New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 0.1 percent during the October-December period, following a 0.3 percent contraction in the third quarter, according to the Statistics Department, a government agency. (see https://tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/gdp-growth). Economists traditionally define a recession as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. On a per capita basis, … Continue reading Data 2: Why we are officially in recession

Unknown's avatarMike Treen
Local News, Mike Treen

Data 1 – benefits are being cut in value in real terms – but why?

By Mike Treen, retired union advocate The real value of benefits is being cut by switching the calculation of annual changes from the movement of the average wage to the Consumer Price Index. The CPI has traditionally been a lower number. Benefits had been switched back to the average wage movement only as recently as 2020 after being tied to the CPI in 1990. That … Continue reading Data 1 – benefits are being cut in value in real terms – but why?

Unknown's avatarMike Treen