Andrew Fairgray: 2degreees Chief Business Officer on the new report saying the 'return to normal' narrative is no longer influencing business confidence

Andrew Bascand & Sue Walker: Harbour Asset Management Co-CEO and Harbour Asset Management Senior Manager discuss energy payments

Electricity and money go hand-in-hand. Every house needs power, and everything costs money.  So how do you balance the two in the midst of a Cost of Living Crisis? And what should you keep an eye out for that might impact the number on your energy bills? Harbour Asset Management Co-CEO Andrew Bascand & Harbour Asset Management Senior Manager Sue Walker join Tim Beveridge on Smart Money.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Todd McClay: Trade Minister on being one step closer to signing a trade agreement with Switzerland

Trade Minister Todd McClay addressed media with his Swiss counterpart Helene Budliger Artieda at the Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership ministerial meeting in Auckland to announce trade partnership talks.  Limited details are available as the talks are in the early stages. "What we've agreed today is to start a formal trade investment dialogue," McClay told Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay: The Country host on the US launching safeguard investigation into NZ lamb imports

Meat industry leaders are disappointed with the United States’ move to initiate a safeguard investigation into lamb imports from New Zealand and Australia. The investigation, to be carried out by the US’s International Trade Commission, is expected to take up to six months to complete. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Paul Fuge: Consumer NZ spokesperson on the number of Kiwis switching power companies

Kiwis are often told to look for the best deals on power, and they're not afraid to swap providers for a better price. So who's winning and who's losing the battle for those customers? Data from the Electricity Authority shows that Genesis Energy is the biggest loser here, with the company losing a net 35,015 customers in the year to June. Nova lost 9059, Manawa 3329 and Mercury 2706. On the opposite end, Contact gained 20,577, Electric Kiwi gained 11,590 and Meridian gained 10,288.  Consumer NZ Paul Fuge says the energy market is quite volatile, and many companies have been making changes to keep up. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Chris Wilkinson: First Retail Group Managing Director on sluggish retail spending

There's a belief sluggish retail spending is a reminder retailers need to stick to the basics. Stats NZ says core retail spending last month was only 0.4% higher year on year. Spending on clothes fell the most at 4.2% – its fourth straight decrease. First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge retailers have to be hungry in the market with strong retail disciplines, but he understands it's tough.  He says rising costs and distribution has made things challenging for retailers.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.