New Zealand’s business capacity utilisation edged down in the second quarter of 2026, suggesting firms are operating slightly further below full stretch than earlier in the year. According to the latest NZIER Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion (QSBO), capacity utilisation slipped to 90.8% in Q2 from 91.2% in the first quarter of 2026.
The small decline indicates a modest cooling in the pressure on existing resources and infrastructure across the economy. While still high by historical standards, the shift from the first to the second quarter may reflect a mild easing in demand conditions or a gradual rebalancing of supply and workload.
The updated figures, released on 13 July 2026, will be closely watched by analysts and policymakers as they assess how intensively New Zealand businesses are running their operations and what that might imply for future investment, pricing, and employment decisions.
