New Zealand business confidence dips as activity indicators weaken, ANZ survey shows

New Zealand's business confidence fell in April amid a weakening in activity and profitability indicators, though data related to inflation pressures remained mixed, an ANZ Bank survey showed on Tuesday.

The survey's headline measure showed a net 14.9% of respondents expected the economy to improve over the year ahead, versus a 22.9% optimism level in the previous poll in March.

A net 14.3% of respondents expected their own businesses to grow in the next 12 months, versus 22.5% last month.

"Cost pressure is particularly persistent," ANZ Agri Economist Susan Kilsby said in a statement. "Reported past activity, which has the best correlation to GDP, dropped sharply, with double-digit falls seen in every sector except construction."