The COVID-19 pandemic continues to restrict the New Zealand economy’s performance, as we face a four-week period of lockdown at COVID-19 Alert Level 4. At Infometrics, we’re continuing to analyse developments, and are providing expert advice to local decision makers about how these events will affect local economies. See our COVID-19 page for more.

In this month’s newsletter, Brad Olsen continues his coverage of the pandemic and its economic effects, detailing how the lockdown is designed to ensure a sharper, V-shaped, recovery rather than an L-shaped slump. He also looks at New Zealand’s food industry, noting that there’s no need to panic buy when workers are still producing food.

In a break from wall-to-wall COVID-19 coverage, Dr Adolf Stroombergen, Infometrics’ Chief Economist, looks at a tax and rebate policy as part of the ongoing debate about carbon taxing.

We look at how Infometrics is planning to support clients and businesses while the team is Working From Home (WFH), through Webinars and other means.

Finally, Andrew Beattie rounds out the newsletter with our regular Chart of the Month, where he examines the growing number of COVID-19 cases, which we’ll update regularly.