Petrol price drop – making it easier on the average household. Would be great to see transport costs come down to reflect the drop.

Fixed interest rates falling – how far is yet to be seen – however with a belief they will remain around this level for the next 2 years we would be suggesting fixing for up to 24 months to take advantage of the low rates without risking a sudden rate rise.

Milk Payout has decreased – although not great for our farmers, it is slightly balanced against the lower lending and lower petrol costs.

Rock Star Economy – our experience is ‘steady as she goes’ and that the so called “Rock Star” economy mentioned by the media is not reflected in the bottom-line profit of businesses outside Canterbury and Auckland. Most are no more profitable now than they were in 2007.

Seven years on from the onset of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in most countries the debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio is now higher than it was before the GFC. A report by consultants McKinsey & Co titled “Debt and (not much) De-leveraging” says that between 2007 and the second quarter of 2014 global debt grew by US$57 trillion, or 40%, to US$199 trillion – sobering and frightening stuff.