NZ businesses ready to spend, but profit outlook remains subdued

New Zealand Herald · Duncan Bridgeman · 2026-10-21 16:00 UTC

While 75% of CEOs expect revenue growth, 62% forecast higher profits.

Hiring intentions remain subdued. Just 32% of respondents plan to increase staff numbers, while 22% expect a decrease and 44% expect to keep the status quo.

That is slightly better than this time last year when 31% said they planned to increase staff numbers, 34% expected a decrease and 34% expected to stay the same.

But it is a meaningful improvement on the 2023 election year, when only 25% of respondents said they intended hiring more staff.

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