A growing amount of economic data suggests the crash in confidence during the early autumn has well and truly past. Consumer confidence has jumped, completely reversing a decline over the past year and putting confidence back at "average" levels, according to a Westpac survey. Its Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index rose 6.8 points in December, when compared to the same survey in September, taking confidence to a level of 109.9 points. READ MORE* Reserve Bank surprise: OCR on hold* 'Positive signs' in latest survey of business confidenceThe jump in consumer confidence follows a big bounce in consumer spending in November that was reported by Statistics NZ on Wednesday. Stephens said the Westpac confidence survey boded well for the Christmas shopping season.

Source: Stuff December 16, 2019 21:00 UTC