New Zealand household net disposable income rose 1.5 percent to $59.4 billion in the December 2024 quarter. The main driver of this increase was a rise in the income of self-employed business owners up 6.5 percent, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
Household net disposable income is the amount of money a household has after all income (such as wages, interest, and child support) and outgoings (such as taxes) have been accounted for. It represents the money available for a household to spend, save, or invest.
These statistics describe the household sector as a whole rather than the experience of different individual households.
"Increases in the income from self-employed business owners and partnerships meant that household income rose during the December 2024 quarter, despite a decrease in salaries and wages for the second quarter in a row," institutional sectors spokesperson James Mitchell said.
This increase in income to self-employed business owners was primarily from businesses in the agriculture, forestry, and residential rental property industries.
Household spending increased 0.8 percent to $60.9 billion in the December 2024 quarter. The increase in household expenditure was driven by spending on services, with increased spending on international and domestic flights, and restaurant and takeaway meals.
| Quarter | Final consumption expenditure | Net disposable income |
| Dec-17 | 41349000000 | 40948000000 |
| Mar-18 | 41760000000 | 41119000000 |
| Jun-18 | 42561000000 | 42152000000 |
| Sep-18 | 43326000000 | 42856000000 |
| Dec-18 | 43944000000 | 43629000000 |
| Mar-19 | 44019000000 | 43152000000 |
| Jun-19 | 44702000000 | 45030000000 |
| Sep-19 | 45309000000 | 45552000000 |
| Dec-19 | 45760000000 | 46502000000 |
| Mar-20 | 45566000000 | 46970000000 |
| Jun-20 | 40459000000 | 47704000000 |
| Sep-20 | 46339000000 | 49456000000 |
| Dec-20 | 47367000000 | 50482000000 |
| Mar-21 | 50009000000 | 51211000000 |
| Jun-21 | 50673000000 | 51195000000 |
| Sep-21 | 47844000000 | 51782000000 |
| Dec-21 | 51018000000 | 52684000000 |
| Mar-22 | 54311000000 | 52958000000 |
| Jun-22 | 53995000000 | 53459000000 |
| Sep-22 | 55416000000 | 54224000000 |
| Dec-22 | 56709000000 | 54806000000 |
| Mar-23 | 57833000000 | 55301000000 |
| Jun-23 | 58721000000 | 57558000000 |
| Sep-23 | 58772000000 | 57728000000 |
| Dec-23 | 59326000000 | 58243000000 |
| Mar-24 | 59882000000 | 59356000000 |
| Jun-24 | 60092000000 | 58685000000 |
| Sep-24 | 60404000000 | 58541000000 |
| Dec-24 | 60867000000 | 59433000000 |
New Zealand household saving rose $429 million to -$1.4 billion in the December 2024 quarter, as net disposable income increased more than the increase to household spending.
