Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Prime Minister Chris Luxon are trying to front foot the looming fuel crisis, hoping it may help revive National’s sliding credibility as an economic manager. Willis says Fitch Rating’s decision to place this country’s AA+ long-term credit rating on negative outlook “is a reminder of why fiscal discipline is so important,” and global economic volatility makes the Government’s programme of fiscal consolidation more important than ever. KiwiBank says latest GDP numbers showing a meagre 0.2% annual growth are not enough to encourage much hope for the uncertain recovery ahead. Winston Peters has announced some policy which indicates what National will have to accept to have him on the coalition benches after November. A wry smile of satisfaction likely creased the faces of tens of thousands of women when they heard Brooke Van Velden, gender traitor, nemesis of workers across the country, and seen as simply mean and vindictive, will step away from politics at the election. And as the election approaches the polls are tightening, but some trends remain – National trailing Labour, Chris Luxon’s popularity fading and the overwhelming feeling the country is heading in the wrong direction. Our guest this week is ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley who helps us delve into the effects of the Middle East conflict on our economy.