New Zealand’s economy is entering a new era with the government’s official data agency preparing a new way to measure the economy, and retailers defying the current climate with increasing optimism.

The announcement from Stats NZ said that inflation figures, new indicators of industry activity, and improved measures of the economy are coming in response to a “quickly” changing economy, in a bid to help give more clarity on how the country is performing.

“Things like digital services, the AI revolution, and new business models are all changing how value is created and exchanged,” said Stats NZ CEO Colin Lynch.

“Official statistics need to keep pace with that rapid change so New Zealanders have a clear and reliable picture of how our economy is working, and can make informed decisions.”

It comes after research from telecommunications company 2degrees, in its Shaping Business 2026 report, found that retail is one of the sectors showing signs of resilience in this fast-changing economy.

The survey found that 61 per cent of businesses expect to grow revenue over the next 12 months, 49 of which also intend to increase investment. Retail, however, outpaces this trend, with 71 per cent in the industry expecting revenue growth, and 52 per cent planning to increase investment.

In retail, only 6 per cent say they are less productive than a year ago, but challenges persist. Research found declining customer spending to be the biggest challenge, followed by rising costs.

“For several years, many businesses held onto the belief that conditions would eventually stabilise and we’d return to something resembling pre-Covid normality,” 2degrees chief business officer Andrew Fairgray said.

“This year’s report shows that mindset is fading, and what’s emerging now is something more pragmatic. Businesses are no longer planning around a recovery cycle – they’re adapting to a fundamentally different environment where productivity, adaptability, and strategic investment will be the key drivers of future growth.”