New Zealand’s business sentiment showed a modest improvement in February, with the NBNZ Own Activity indicator rising to 52.6%, up from 51.6% in January 2026. The data, updated on 26 February 2026, suggest that businesses are marginally more optimistic about their own activity than at the start of the year.
The move from 51.6% to 52.6% points to a gradual strengthening in firms’ expectations around production, sales and investment. While the gain is not dramatic, it keeps the indicator in positive territory and indicates ongoing confidence in the near-term economic environment.
Market participants and analysts will be watching subsequent releases closely to see whether February’s uptick develops into a more robust trend, or remains a modest improvement in business activity expectations across New Zealand.
