Commodity prices slip. The ANZ Commodity Price Index was down again in August but it’s still well ahead of the same time last year and remains near its record high set in June. The World Price Index was down 1.6% in August compared to July, following a 1.7% decline over the previous month. The Index […]
economics
Suppliers need a fairer deal
With the Commerce Commission’s market study into the retail grocery sector drawing to its conclusion, Federated Farmers is calling for a fairer deal for suppliers. As a representative of food producers (and consumers), Federated Farmers is keen to ensure that the retail grocery sector is competitive. It’s concerning but perhaps not surprising that the Commission […]
Feds backs the butcher, the baker, and the greengrocer – again
Federated Farmers says the government needs to reconsider and let small business fresh food sellers stay open under level 4. Last year Federated Farmers national president Andrew Hoggard was vocal about Feds’ position. “We pleaded for common sense to prevail, we have had over one year to sort this out – yet it is not.” New […]
Water Services Bill – Bad news
Bad news… Feds and small water suppliers have been ignored in the submission process, while my community spent time together this week at the community hall which will be affected they are unwittingly captured by the Water Services Bill. The Bill is unworkable at the small-scale. Regardless of the effectiveness of ‘acceptable solutions’ for small […]
Economic Week – August 13
Farmers have done well but outlook uncertain. The results are out for Federated Farmers’ July 2021 New Season Farm Confidence Survey. Most farmers were doing well due to good market prices but they’re uncertain about the economic outlook and have major concerns about labour shortages and the impact of government policy and regulation. There were […]
Economic Week – August 6
Have commodities peaked? Having posted record highs in recent months, commodity prices slipped in July. The ANZ World Commodity Price Index was down 1.4% compared to June. Dairy was the main downward influence, with its prices down 3.4% for the month. Meat and fibre prices were up 0.6%, with higher prices for lamb and wool […]
Economic Week – July 30
Supermarkets under the spotlight. The Commerce Commission this week released a hard-hitting draft report on competition in the retail grocery sector, with supermarkets not coming out of it well. The Commission found problems and they’re mainly with the structure of the market. In competitive terms the major retailers, Woolworths NZ and Foodstuffs, are a duopoly […]
Economic Week – July 23
GDT down again. Dairy prices slipped again at this week’s Global Dairy Trade auction, its seventh consecutive fall stretching back three over three months. Overall, the GDT Price Index was down 2.9% compared to the previous auction a fortnight ago. Whole milk powder, by far the biggest traded by volume, was down 3.8%, while skim […]
Economic Week – July 16
Stimulus reduced. The Reserve Bank caused ripples this week with its decision to wind back on its extraordinary monetary stimulus. Although it kept its Official Cash Rate on hold at 0.25%, the Reserve Bank announced it would be ceasing its programme of large scale asset purchases from 23 July 2021, almost a year ahead of […]
Urban Kiwis and Farmers Share a Vision for Sustainable Food Production
When it comes to sustainable food, what matters more? What we’re buying. Or where, and who, we’re buying our food from? New research from @ourlandandwater suggests that urban Kiwis see supporting farmers directly with their dollar as the strongest sustainable food choice they can make. The study found that town or country, Kiwis have mostly […]