New Zealand: NZ Manufacturing PMI in Expansion for 16th Straight Month.

New Zealand’s BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index eased to 54.9 in October 2026 from 56.3 in September, marking a 16-month streak of expansion. Respondents cited fuel prices, the cost of living, and election uncertainty as concerns, though many pointed to the Christmas build-up and steady orders as positive factors. Employment was the weakest sub-index at 51.9, though still expanding, while Deliveries (61.4) and Finished Stocks (58.0) were the strongest. New Orders (54.3) and Production (53.9) eased from the previous month but remained comfortably in expansion. The Christmas build-up and steady infrastructure work suggest manufacturers are ending the year on a solid footing, even as input prices and the cost of living continue to weigh on the sector.