Property & Build New Zealand - Aotearoa's property and construction news for decision-makers
New Zealand

Living costs Stories

Kiwi Stories

Living costs stories

New Zealand shoppers turn to AI & social for research
Omnichannel

New Zealand shoppers turn to AI & social for research

Rising living costs are pushing New Zealand shoppers to compare prices, reviews and product details across AI, social media and search.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Wed, 8th Jul 2026
NZ households prioritise utilities over telco debts
Bank of New Zealand

NZ households prioritise utilities over telco debts

Cost-of-living pressure is pushing New Zealand households to protect power and water bills first, while telco debts are among the first to slip.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Tue, 9th Jun 2026

Global Stories

Living costs stories

Vancouver & Toronto rank mid-table in bunq cost index
Fintech

Vancouver & Toronto rank mid-table in bunq cost index

Rent is the main pressure point in Vancouver and Toronto, where housing takes up most monthly outgoings despite mid-table overall living costs.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • 4 days ago
UnionPay expands payment access at New Zealand universities
Risk & Compliance

UnionPay expands payment access at New Zealand universities

Chinese students at two New Zealand universities can now pay tuition and living costs through UnionPay, easing cross-border transactions.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 29th Jul 2026
Visa predicts 2.4% global growth as online shopping rises
Data Analytics

Visa predicts 2.4% global growth as online shopping rises

Higher energy costs are squeezing household budgets, but digital commerce and brisk business investment are helping keep growth steady at 2.4% in 2026.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Thu, 2nd Jul 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Living costs stories

Britons lose GBP £126 a year to hidden fees, study says
eCommerce

Britons lose GBP £126 a year to hidden fees, study says

Britons are being hit by surprise costs on essentials and travel, with consumers saying opaque billing is eroding trust and budgets alike.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month
Irish workers boost AI skills amid job security fears
Human Capital Management

Irish workers boost AI skills amid job security fears

More than two in five Irish professionals now fear AI could affect their jobs, even as most remain confident their skills will still count in three years.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last month
Household energy fund tops AUD $1 billion in loans
Power / Energy

Household energy fund tops AUD $1 billion in loans

Australian households are cutting bills by up to 80% after taking low-interest loans for solar, batteries and electric appliances.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month
Adyen report finds Singapore shoppers split by age
Digital Transformation

Adyen report finds Singapore shoppers split by age

Younger Singaporeans are driving higher retail spend, while payment errors and AI adoption are reshaping how retailers compete.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 29th Jul 2026
UK credit card severe delinquency rises, FICO says
Risk & Compliance

UK credit card severe delinquency rises, FICO says

Severe arrears are deepening among vulnerable borrowers, even as post-Easter spending fell and repayments ticked higher in May.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Tue, 28th Jul 2026
Early mortgage hardship boosts repayment recovery: Experian
Data Analytics

Early mortgage hardship boosts repayment recovery: Experian

Borrowers who seek help before falling behind on mortgages are far more likely to recover, with 87% back on track within six months.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Tue, 28th Jul 2026
Canadians turn to pay-later services for groceries
Fintech

Canadians turn to pay-later services for groceries

Pay-later use for essentials is rising as Canadians face higher grocery bills and turn to discount chains to stretch budgets.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Thu, 9th Jul 2026
Australians research more before buying as costs bite
Data Privacy

Australians research more before buying as costs bite

Rising living costs are pushing 71% of online shoppers to compare more options and cross-check purchases across more channels before buying.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Mon, 6th Jul 2026
TELUS gala raises CAD $3 million for youth bursaries
Samsung

TELUS gala raises CAD $3 million for youth bursaries

The record haul will fund bursaries and grants for young Canadians hit by affordability, mental health and education barriers.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 5 min read • Thu, 25th Jun 2026
Karmo launches cheaper BYD EV subscriptions in Australia
Fleet Management

Karmo launches cheaper BYD EV subscriptions in Australia

Lower weekly payments could widen access to BYD electric cars as Karmo's novated subscription starts at AUD $126.16 in Australia.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Tue, 23rd Jun 2026
RBA set to hold as late business payments hit six-year high
Small Business

RBA set to hold as late business payments hit six-year high

Australian businesses face tighter cash flow as overdue invoices jump to a six-year high, reinforcing expectations the RBA will hold rates at 4.35%.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Mon, 15th Jun 2026
Mortgages no longer top debt priority for Australians
Data Analytics

Mortgages no longer top debt priority for Australians

Severe financial stress is changing household payment hierarchies, with mortgages now as likely as credit cards to fall behind first in some cases.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Wed, 10th Jun 2026