Bill English

Opposition Finance Spokesperson

Wednesday 28 June 2000

Govt. offside with households

"It's not only business feeling grumpy with the Government," Opposition Finance spokesperson Bill English said today. "Households are now off-side as well.

"The June quarter saw the largest ever monthly decline in the WestpacTrust McDermott Miler survey of consumer confidence.

"The Labour-Alliance Government inherited a strong economy, which is still roaring along, but people just see trouble ahead.

"Households' perceptions of the short-term outlook for the economy have nose-dived. In March a net 27.9% of households expected good economic times in the year ahead. By June, that had turned to a net 18.5% expecting bad economic times.

"And 37% of those expecting bad economic times attribute this to 'wrong Government economic policy'.

"This coincides with the period in which household budgets have begun to feel the pressure of higher taxes, higher petrol prices and higher interest rates.

"And this was survey before the Budget that failed to deliver on the high expectations of households.

"This survey shows Labour will have to extend its smoked-salmon charm offensive to ordinary New Zealand households as well as business, if it hopes to turn around the sour mood its policies have created," Mr English said.

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