Retreating tech leaves US weaknesses exposed

Retreating tech leaves US weaknesses exposed

Author: Interest.co.nz / Podcasts NZ, David Chaston, Gareth Vaughan, interest.co.nz February 4, 2026 Duration: 4:26
US data uninspiring. China services PMI expands faster. EU inflation retreats. Australian cost of living indexes mixed. Bitcoin slides faster

Economy Watch is a regular analysis of the financial forces shaping life in New Zealand. Hosted by David Chaston and Gareth Vaughan from interest.co.nz, this podcast digs into the weekly data, policy shifts, and market movements that quietly dictate everything from mortgage rates and grocery bills to job prospects and investment returns. The conversation moves beyond headline numbers, offering context and clarity on what the Reserve Bank's latest decision means for your wallet, how global commodity prices ripple through to local farms, or why a change in migration statistics matters for the housing market. It’s a grounded, informed discussion for anyone who wants to understand the mechanics behind the news, whether you're managing a business, a portfolio, or simply a household budget. Tune in to Economy Watch for a clear-eyed perspective on the economic currents that define our everyday reality, delivered by journalists who have been tracking these stories for years. You'll find this podcast an essential tool for connecting the dots in a complex financial landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 500

Economy Watch
Podcast Episodes
Risk off as tariff shambles extends [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:45
US issues unilateral tariff letters, pushing trade partners into China's orbit. Global data stable. Eyes on RBA and household reactions.
Eyes on the RBA and RBNZ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:48
Japanese households spend more; so do Singaporeans, and Australians. EU PPI levels out. EU house prices rise, some sharply. Eyes on RBA and RBNZ.
'Big, beautiful' deficits locked in [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:53
US budget locks in monster deficits. US payrolls rise, pay falls. US factory orders flat except for aircraft. China services expand slowly. Freight rates dive.
US adopting budgetary self-harm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:05
US budget close to passage. Dairy prices fall. US data unimpressive. Japanese sentiment rises. EU inflation modest. Sydney bracing for wild weather.
Bond markets await US budget vote [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:10
US data weak and US budget bill debated. India slows. China holds slow. Air cargo volumes get tariff push. Air travel rises. Aussie house prices rise.
Halfway through a year of little progress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:20
Eyes on China's economic resilience and American household finances. Canada attacked by US Big Tech via Trump and by Chinese video surveillance.
Markets shun the US dollar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:44
US data weaker as the greenback falls with markets worried about an impending White House attack on the Fed. Freight rates retreat.
Inflation drivers puzzle Americans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:47
US electricity prices leap. US new house sales drop hard. Powell pushes back on one-off claim. Australian CPI eases. Shell eyes BP.