Friday, July 30, 2010

Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL)

21 May 2010

Top marks, but ...

Top marks to the Finance Minister for today bringing to the fore New Zealand’s net external debt. Not just government debt, but the net debt of NZ Inc. To quote from the Minister’s Budget Speech:

“New Zealand’s largest single vulnerability is now its large and growing net external liabilities. New Zealand now owes the world $168bn, or around 90 per cent of GDP.”

It has been a long time since this issue has been rightfully acknowledged in the New Zealand policy arena – »»

Press Release - Lets not get too excited

06 May 2010

“Calls for quick removal of monetary stimulus based on the HLFS job numbers released today are definitely way off the mark”, said BERL Chief Economist Dr Ganesh Nana. “The rapid exchange rate response to today’s statistics are also of concern. With the Kiwi$ now back above 80 against the Aussie$ the incipient recovery in certain areas of manufacturing that we were »»

To build or not to build Auckland’s trains in New Zealand

04 May 2010

BERL recently completed a report for Dunedin City Council and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union that considered the economic benefits to New Zealand of building the proposed new rolling stock for Auckland (38 three-car electric multiple units (EMUs) and 13 locomotives) at Dunedin and/or Lower Hutt. The report has been widely covered in the media including the Herald, Stuff and »»

Auckland recovery tentative at best

19 Mar 2010

The recovery of the Auckland economy is by no means a foregone conclusion. That’s the message from Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL) and the AUT Institute of Public Policy’s (IPP) latest economic forecast for Auckland. The second report in the quarterly series was launched today and forecast some improvements in various sectors but continued slow growth or the status quo »»

BERL PLEASED TO SUPPORT LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE

10 Mar 2010

"Supporting and promoting the role local bodies play in enabling economic development is behind BERL’s support of this year’s Local Government New Zealand Conference", says BERL General Manager Amanda Lynn. Conference 2010 explores the theme ‘Building Prosperous Places.’ The conference website is now live on »»

Vital Statistics
Latest News
BERL Graphs


GDP (average growth for year to Sep 09)	-2.2%
CPI (Sep 09 incr on Sep 08)	1.7%
Current account balance (year to Sep 09, % of GDP)	-3.1%
Unemployment (Sep 09)	6.5%
Employment (Sep 09 change on Sep 08)	-1.8%

14 Jan - The number of new homes authorised for construction (excluding apartments) rose 3.1% in November 2009. This follows an 11% rise in October 2009 and brings the number of housing units authorised to its highest level since May 2008. The value of residential building consents was $537m, an increase of 18% compared with November 2008.

12 Jan - New Zealand house values rose 2.8% over 2009. The average sales price also rose to $404,671, according to QV.

8 Jan - New Zealand is the 5th best place in the world to live according to International Living's Quality of Life Index.

7 Jan - The November 2009 trade balance was a deficit of $269m or 8.8% of exports. This compares with an average November deficit of 27.6% of exports for the previous five years.

December 2009 latest news
Nov 2009 News
October 2009
July 2009 News
June 2009 News

Key graphs - Exchange Rate
Key graph - Prices and Wages
Key graph - Interest Rates
Key graph - Core Crown Operating Balance
Key graph - Balance of Payments
Key graph - GDP and Employment

Academic Workforce Planning - Towards 2020

The New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC) have engaged BERL to quantify the demand for and supply of academic staff between 2008 and 2020.

BERL Projects

Since setting up a professional consulting and research operation in 1970, BERL has undertaken a variety of projects for a range of clients. Please feel free to look at the summaries of a selection of our work from the last few years. If you have any queries on these or other projects we have undertaken please contact us.

Projects are searchable by year.

Jump to:2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

Latest Projects

The Value of Pasture to the New Zealand Economy
Economic impact of Air New Zealand service Rarotonga – Los Angeles
Economic impact of seasonal Sydney-Rarotonga route
Framework for economic impact assessment of earthquake disruption to Wellington Metropolitan lifelines
Case study: Reducing lifeline disruption losses – Whakatikei Dam
Economic Benefits of a Nelson City Performing Arts Center and Conference Centre
Pacific Wave Conference Delegate Document
Wellington on a Plate Economic Impact Analysis
In Depth Country Research - China
Costs of harmful alcohol and other drug use
Maori Television and its contribution to the New Zealand Economy
Projections for a skilled and productive New Zealand

BERL News Archive

Currently selected year: 2010


[ - ] May
BERL Budget Commentary Press Release - Lets not get too excited To build or not to build Auckland’s trains in New Zealand
[ - ] March
Auckland recovery tentative at best BERL PLEASED TO SUPPORT LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE
[ - ] January
DCC Briefed on Economy Articles on China we like