30 Nov - In October 2009, the seasonally adjusted number of new housing units authorised (excluding apartments) rose 11%. This follows a 3.5% rise in September 2009 and brings the number of consents to its highest since June 2008. When apartments are included, the number of new housing units rose 12%. Building consents were issued for 1,321 new housing units (excluding apartments) in October 2009. Consents were issued for 103 new apartment units. The value of residential building consents ($481m) was 59% of all building consents in October 2009. The value of non-residential building consents was $329m. 

27 Nov - The value of both merchandise imports and exports fell in October 2009 compared with October 2008, down 28.3% and 22.4%, respectively. The trade balance for October 2009 was a deficit of $487 million or 16.4% of the value of exports. This compares with an average October deficit of 30.0% of exports for the previous five years. 

23 Nov - Visitor arrivals in October 2009 (187,400) were up 13,400 (8%) compared with October 2008.  Permanent and long-term (PLT) departures decreased by 2,000 in the October 2009 month, including 1,800 fewer departures to Australia and 200 fewer departures to the United Kingdom. Since February 2009, monthly PLT departures have fallen by at least 1,000, compared with the same month of the previous year. PLT arrivals decreased by 500 in October 2009.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, PLT arrivals exceeded PLT departures by 2,100 in October 2009, similar to levels experienced since February 2009.

New Zealand's annual net PLT migration balance was a gain of 18,600 in the October 2009 year, up from 4,300 in the October 2008 year. The increase in net migration was driven largely by 14,900 fewer PLT departures compared with the previous year.

12 Nov - The estimated resident population of New Zealand was 4,331,600 at 30 September 2009. The population increased by 51,700 (1.2%) in the September 2009 year, the highest growth in three years. In the September 2008 year, the population increased by 39,900 (0.9%). 

12 Nov - The value of seasonally adjusted total retail sales increased 0.5% ($82m) in the September 2009 quarter. This is the second quarter with increased sales values, following four quarters of decreases. Although sales values were up, volumes were flat (up just 0.1%), suggesting that prices, in general, rose this quarter.

11 Nov - Food prices decreased 1.5% in the October 2009 month, the largest fall in three-and-a-half years. For the year to October 2009, food prices rose 2.0%, which is the smallest annual increase since May 2006.

11 Nov - International guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were up 8% in September 2009 compared with September 2008. Domestic guest nights were slightly higher than in the previous September, meaning total guest nights in September 2009 were up 3% over the same period. 

10 Nov - Seasonally adjusted value of electronic card transactions were up 0.2% compared with September 2009. on the same month a year ago, actual values were up 2.8%.

5 Nov - the number of unemployed rose by 12,000 to reach 150,000 people, and the unemployment rate increased to 6.5% during the September 2009 quarter.  The number of people employed fell by 17,000 during the latest quarter. The labour force participation rate fell by 0.4 percentage points to 68%.

3 Nov - In the year to September 2009, employment as measured by the number of full-time equivalent employees decreased 3.5% and filled jobs decreased by 2.6%. The manufacturing industry was the main contributor to both these annual decreases.