Credit cards accounted for 71.1% of card transactions in August — their highest share in more than two decades.

Does that reflect renewed confidence, the convenience of online spending, or are more New Zealanders relying on debt simply to make ends meet?

Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker examine what the figures reveal about household finances, how election uncertainty could slow the economic recovery, and why property prices may not return to their 2021 peak until 2029.

The Economy of Everything is made in partnership with CMC Markets.

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New Zealand’s major political parties appear to be moving closer together on KiwiSaver – but there are some significant differences in how far they’re willing to go.

Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker look at plans to increase employer contributions, whether compulsory saving is the answer to New Zealand’s retirement shortfall, and why businesses may ultimately carry much of the cost.

Plus, rising US interest rates and bond yields could have consequences for Kiwi mortgages and KiwiSaver balances, while new GDP figures may offer some hope that New Zealand’s fragile economic recovery is finally gaining momentum.

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Caci founder Jackie Smith didn’t set out to build one of New Zealand’s best-known beauty businesses.

Starting out as a nurse, Smith and her husband David launched their first clinic in 1994 before expanding Caci into a nationwide franchise.

She joins Liam Dann on Money Talks to discuss the risks they took along the way, why they kept reinvesting in the business rather than spending their success, and why she believes getting ahead financially requires sacrifice.

Plus, Smith explains why sometimes taking the seemingly safe option can be the biggest risk of all.

Money Talks is brought to you in partnership with CMC Markets.

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Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are already transforming lives – but could their impact on the economy be even bigger?

Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker look at predictions GLP-1 drugs could boost the US economy by hundreds of billions of dollars, slash healthcare costs and fundamentally change the food industry.

And could New Zealand be one of the big winners as demand shifts towards protein?

Plus, they break down the latest OCR decision, why different parts of New Zealand arguably need very different interest rates, and what to expect from the next GDP figures.

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New Zealand’s economic data is finally showing some signs of life – but for many businesses and households, it certainly doesn’t feel like a recovery.

Nearly 3,000 hospitality businesses ceased trading in the past year, liquidations remain elevated, and unemployment is likely to take longer to turn around. At the same time, confidence is improving and economists are increasingly optimistic about what comes next.

Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker look at the conflicting signals in the economy, why the recovery may take time to reach ordinary New Zealanders, and what NZ’s march towards $1 trillion in total debt really tells us.

The Economy of Everything is brought to you by CMC Markets.

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The Financial Times says Auckland has solved its housing crisis — but has it really?

Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker look at why housing affordability has improved, the economic pain sitting behind falling Auckland house prices, why older workers may be particularly vulnerable in the current jobs market, and what mortgage holders can expect from next week’s Reserve Bank decision.

The Economy of Everything is brought to you by CMC Markets and the New Zealand Herald.

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New Zealand’s housing market remains stubbornly flat, our birth rate has fallen to historic lows, and Auckland is once again talking about another Harbour Crossing.

Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker ask whether the great Kiwi property boom is truly over, what slower population growth means for the economy, and why New Zealand can spend decades talking about major infrastructure without actually building it.

The Economy of Everything is brought to you by CMC Markets.

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CMC Markets managing director Chris Smith joins Liam Dann to talk about the investing bug that started when he was 16, why New Zealand has historically favoured property over shares, and the mistakes that taught him the most.

He also discusses market crashes, AI investment, KiwiSaver, our appetite for risk and why he believes simply earning a salary may not be enough to build the wealth needed for retirement.

Money Talks is brought to you by CMC Markets

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New Zealand businesses have spent much of the past year waiting for the recovery, but what if the economy they’re dealing with now is the new normal?

Join Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker as they ponder whether Christopher Luxon had actually had a point when he shared his controversial thoughts with the Rotorua business community. They also unpack the latest unemployment figures, and look ahead to reporting season.

The Economy of Everything is made in partnership with CMC Markets

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Could more babies be the answer to New Zealand’s economic problems?

Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker unpack Winston Peters’ proposed $45,000 Kiwi Kids Grant, ask whether cash can really lift the birth rate, and look at why migration may still be the more realistic path to growth. Plus, why Christchurch and the regions are outperforming Auckland—and whether rising building consents offer a glimmer of hope.

The Economy of Everything is brought to you by CMC Markets

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.