Infometrics welcomes Matthew Allman into our economist team. Matthew joined us in April this year and is already an integral part of the forecasting team. This month we chat with Matthew about what he’s been involved with since he joined Infometrics.
Bio – Matthew Allman
Studied at: University of Canterbury
Resides in: Wellington
Jacqui: Can you describe a typical day at work?
Matthew: I primarily sit in the forecasting team, so I run some of our forecast models and chat with the team on our collective thinking of trends. A good portion of my work involves writing economic analysis, whether it be a news release on the latest data releases, an insight article on a research topic of interest or forecast commentary. I am also involved in some of our other product offerings like the Quarterly Economic Monitor(QEM) and consulting projects.
Jacqui: What are you currently working on?
Matthew: I have recently been working on our latest forecasting round, particularly on our transport forecasts. It has been interesting to analyse the trends of all the underlying drivers that influence demand for vehicles. It’s great to see the level of thought and detail that goes into a product that helps inform key decision making of New Zealand businesses.
I am also rebuilding one of our GDP models for an early quarterly pick for GDP. It is always great to get involved in the detail and conduct econometric analysis to get the best forecasting results.
Jacqui: What has been your most rewarding work experience?
Matthew: Attending the Budget 2024 lock-up was super rewarding. Although the contents of the Budget weren’t all that surprising, it was a privilege to review the documents ahead of the public release. Getting to meet some highly renowned journalists was also a highlight.
Jacqui: What has been your most challenging work experience?
Matthew: Appearing on the news for the first time providing some economic analysis was an experience with a mix of challenging and rewarding aspects. It definitely got me out of my comfort zone, but I am grateful I got the opportunity to do it.
Jacqui: What is your background and how has this influenced your work at Infometrics?
Matthew: After completing my Master’s in Applied Finance & Economics I worked at Ernst & Young in a role more geared towards accounting and finance. This role meant I worked with a lot of different businesses and got to understand how different economic conditions influence cash flow and how the good or service they provide are affected by the wider economy.
My education helps with the technical and writing side of my role, interpreting statistical patterns and getting amongst our forecasting models means I need an inquisitive approach to correctly decipher a movement and communicate its significance to our clients.
Jacqui: What do you do when not at work?
Matthew: My partner and I moved to Wellington earlier this year, so we have been trying all the coffee shops and exploring the surrounding areas of Wellington. I also love being active, going to the gym and playing futsal during the week, and football on the weekends. To relax I enjoy unwinding with a book or watching a series I have on the go at the time.
Jacqui: What is an intriguing fact about you?
Matthew: My ethnic background is quite interesting, although I was born and raised in Christchurch my whānau is from the far north (Ngāti Kuri). As there were quite a range of European settlers that came to New Zealand, I am mixed with a large range of European ethnicities. I am one of the many Māori-Croatians residing in New Zealand.
Jacqui: Thank you for taking the time to chat to us Matthew. We look forward to following your progress at Infometrics.
