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New Zealand Traffic Activity Falls in August, ANZ Research Says

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The New Zealand Light Traffic Index fell 1.2% in August and was down 0.7% from a year earlier, according to data from ANZ Research released Thursday.

According to the ANZ Truckometer Index, light traffic, including motorbikes, cars, and vans, has declined noticeably in recent months, suggesting weaker demand and potentially reflecting reduced driving due to higher fuel prices, although some of the weakness may also be weather-related.

The more volatile Heavy Traffic Index, tracking mostly trucks and some buses, fell 2.2% in August as the rebound from its winter low was weaker than usual, although it remained 1.3% higher year on year, the report said.

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