New Zealand's Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index fell to 80.4, its lowest level since 2023. Rising fuel and other living costs, exacerbated by tensions in the Middle East, have intensified concerns about household finances in recent months. The cost of essentials, including petrol and electricity, has increased sharply, while higher mortgage rates have added to borrowing pressures. Against this backdrop, more households expect their financial situation to worsen over the next year than to improve. Consumers have also become increasingly pessimistic about the broader economic outlook. As living costs continue to climb, households are growing more cautious with discretionary spending and are less willing to purchase durable goods. Wellington remains the most pessimistic region in the country. source: Westpac Banking Corporation, McDermott Miller

Consumer Confidence in New Zealand decreased to 80.40 points in the second quarter of 2026 from 94.70 points in the first quarter of 2026. Consumer Confidence in New Zealand averaged 107.81 points from 1988 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 130.90 points in the second quarter of 1994 and a record low of 75.60 points in the fourth quarter of 2022. This page provides the latest reported value for - New Zealand Consumer Confidence - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. New Zealand Consumer Confidence - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Consumer Confidence in New Zealand decreased to 80.40 points in the second quarter of 2026 from 94.70 points in the first quarter of 2026. Consumer Confidence in New Zealand is expected to be 92.90 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the New Zealand Consumer Confidence is projected to trend around 91.00 points in 2027 and 95.00 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-17 08:00 PM
Westpac Consumer Confidence
Q1 94.7 96.5 95
2026-06-16 09:30 PM
Westpac Consumer Confidence
Q2 80.4 94.7 92.9
2026-09-16 09:00 PM
Westpac Consumer Confidence
Q3 80.4 89


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
ANZ Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence 86.50 80.30 points May 2026
Bank Lending Rate 9.77 9.77 percent May 2026
Westpac Consumer Confidence 80.40 94.70 points Jun 2026
Consumer Spending 45770.00 45564.00 NZD Million Mar 2026
Electronic Retail Card Spending YoY 7113.00 6992.00 NZD Million May 2026
Gasoline Prices 1.90 2.11 USD/Liter May 2026
Households Debt to GDP 91.10 90.60 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Households Debt to Income 167.00 166.00 percent Dec 2025
Private Sector Credit 612621.00 614759.00 NZD Million Apr 2026
Retail Sales 0.90 0.90 percent Mar 2026
Retail Sales YoY 4.50 4.40 percent Mar 2026


New Zealand Consumer Confidence
In New Zealand, the Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index measures the level of optimism that consumers have about the performance of the economy. The Consumer Confidence Index is calculated from percentage response to five internationally standardized questions covering consumers' personal financial circumstances, national economic expectations and attitudes to major purchases. It is 100 plus the average of the difference between positive answers and negative responses. A score above 100 shows more optimism than pessimism while a score below 100 denotes more pessimism.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
80.40 94.70 130.90 75.60 1988 - 2026 points Quarterly

News Stream
New Zealand Consumer Sentiment Hits 2023 Low
New Zealand's Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index fell to 80.4, its lowest level since 2023. Rising fuel and other living costs, exacerbated by tensions in the Middle East, have intensified concerns about household finances in recent months. The cost of essentials, including petrol and electricity, has increased sharply, while higher mortgage rates have added to borrowing pressures. Against this backdrop, more households expect their financial situation to worsen over the next year than to improve. Consumers have also become increasingly pessimistic about the broader economic outlook. As living costs continue to climb, households are growing more cautious with discretionary spending and are less willing to purchase durable goods. Wellington remains the most pessimistic region in the country.
2026-06-16
New Zealand Consumer Confidence Weakens in Q1
The Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index in New Zealand fell to 94.7 in Q1 2026 from 96.5 in Q4 2025, signalling households became more pessimistic about economic conditions. The survey was conducted in the first two weeks of March, the same time as the war in the Middle East broke out, leading to large increases in fuel costs. Against that backdrop, households have grown a little more nervous about the economic outlook. A growing number of households actually see their financial position had been improving over the past year due to continued strength in export commodity prices, including for New Zealand’s key dairy exports and a large drop in borrowing costs over the past year. However, those improving domestic conditions have now been over taken by more worrying global events. The longer the conflict continues, the larger the resulting disruptions to economic activity and pressure on households' finance will be.
2026-03-17
New Zealand Consumer Sentiment Improves in Q4
The Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index in New Zealand rose to 96.5 in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 90.9 in the previous period, marking the highest of the year, but remaining just below long-run averages. The increase reflects easing borrowing costs and seasonal cheer, as large numbers of borrowers roll onto lower fixed mortgage rates and households feel some relief at the end of the year. According to Westpac, households are more optimistic about the economy’s trajectory and spending appetites have lifted, supported by lower interest costs and improving sentiment. The survey also noted that the labour market shows some improvements even though job creation remains limited. Regional results were mixed but broadly stronger, with Auckland among the most upbeat areas. These factors, together with firmer commodity prices, suggest that consumer confidence has strengthened heading into 2026 while still short of fully recovered levels.
2025-12-16