Consumption Goods Lift Imports

Consumption Goods Lift Imports

The seasonally adjusted value of imports increased 3.7 percent in the March 2005 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. Consumption goods was the main category underpinning the quarterly imports increase, showing a rise in value of 4.4 percent. The main increases in consumption goods were for food and beverages for household consumption, and semi-durable consumer goods.

Capital machinery and plant imports rose 10.8 percent in value in the March 2005 quarter, largely due to telecommunications and computer equipment. Offsetting this rise, however, was a lower import value for capital transport equipment.

Intermediate goods fell 0.1 percent overall, because the value of imported crude oil was down after a high December 2004 quarter. This more than offset the rise in the value of other intermediate goods. Intermediate goods other than crude oil rose by 5.3 percent, with the main contributors being processed industrial supplies (such as iron and steel) and parts and accessories of capital goods (such as chassis and printed circuits). Intermediate goods are goods that are used up or transformed in industrial production processes.

Ian Ewing
Acting Government Statistician
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