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New Zealand Consumer Arrears Fall to Lowest Level Since 2021 in June, Centrix Says

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Data shows consumer credit performance in New Zealand is continuing to improve, with consumer arrears falling to their lowest level since 2021 in June and residential mortgage arrears reaching their lowest point since December 2022, Centrix said in the July Credit Indicator report on Tuesday.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised the official cash rate to 2.5% earlier, its first increase in three years. The June-quarter Consumer Price Index showed annual inflation rose to 4.1%, with higher fuel, electricity, council rates, and housing-related costs among the main contributors.

However, personal loan hardship rose 37% year over year and now makes up 24% of all hardship cases.

Consumer credit demand is subdued, falling 7.3% year over year, with growth concentrated in mortgages, vehicle loans, and personal loans, rising about 11%, 8%, and 4.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, demand for credit cards; buy-now, pay-later; and retail energy fell sharply.

New household lending fell 4.5% year over year during the June quarter. Approved new mortgage lending was down 5.6% over the same period.

Business credit demand has softened and company closures and liquidations remain elevated. However, business defaults are declining and the average credit quality of new applicants improved, the report said.

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