New Zealand Annual Immigration Declined to 8,970 in July
By Tracy Withers
Aug. 20 (Bloomberg) — New Zealand's annual immigration growth fell to a 17-month low in July, suggesting demand for houses and consumer goods may cool.
The number of permanent migrant arrivals exceeded departures by 8,970 in the year ended July 31, the lowest since February last year, Statistics New Zealand said in a report released today in Wellington. Annual immigration gains narrowed from 10,080 in June and have been falling since November last year as departures outpace arrivals.
Departures rose 7.2 percent from a year earlier while arrivals increased 2.2 percent. Fewer New Zealand citizens returned home and more residents departed, the agency said.
In July, permanent arrivals exceeded departures by 440 seasonally adjusted. Net arrivals averaged about 450 a month so far this year compared with about 1,290 a month in the second half of 2006.
Tourist and short-term visitor arrivals fell for the third time in five months, which may slow spending in an industry that makes up about 10 percent of the $102 billion economy.
Short-term visitor arrivals fell 1.8 percent from June, when they gained 0.6 percent, seasonally adjusted, the statistics agency said.
Arrivals rose 3.7 percent in the 12 months ended July 31, the agency said, citing unadjusted figures. More than half the increase came from Australian visitors while annual arrivals from Japan and the U.S. declined.
To contact the reporter on this story: Tracy Withers in Wellington at twithers@bloomberg.net .
Last Updated: August 19, 2007 18:48 EDT
