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Photo: Consumer confidence has picked up and is suggesting the worst of the economic downturn may be coming to an end. The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence index gained five points in July to 88 points, which remained deeply pessimistic. ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner said consumers were still doing it tough because of high costs of living and interest rates. "It's still very low, but has clawed back about half the March-April fall that coincided with 'recession' headlines. The lift was driven by improving expectations rather than the here and now." The survey's future conditions index, which asks about future prospects and expectations, was higher with 20 percent of respondents expecting to be better off next year. Consumers were also more upbeat about the economic outlook in the...

Photo: Marika Khabazi Officials have embarked on a salvage job now that a hydrogen truck building project with a US firm that had faced fraud charges in the US has gone off track. US company Hyzon has pulled out of Australia, leaving a deal to modify 20 trucks for Auckland company TR Group hanging. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) helped fund the deal, so far putting in $2 million out of $8m of public money, and its partnership manager Richard Briggs is in meetings over other options. "Of course it's gone off track because Hyzon's closed the door," Briggs said. "So we're now working with TR to put it back on track and make sure those trucks do get on the road ... as soon as possible." Hyzon was charged in the US with misleading investors about its business relation...

Ben Buchanan with this year's pumpkin harvest. Photo: Foodstuffs A bountiful crop of pumpkins this year means prices have fallen, great news for consumers but not the best for growers. StatsNZs latest data shows pumpkin prices were down 57 percent in June compared to the same month last year. Foodstuffs North Island's Head of Meat and Produce Brigit Corson said whole crown pumpkins, one of New Zealand's most popular varieties with its large size offers a huge amount of value for customers. "It's fantastic to see pumpkins back on the shelf at great prices for Kiwis, Cyclone Gabrielle wiped out a lot of the crop in 2023 and they were in short supply leading to higher-than-normal prices "This year has been the complete opposite, with amazing growing conditions delivering huge yields, resul...