Statistics New Zealand has released its national accounts data for the March quarter, which reported a heavy 1.6% fall in real GDP – the largest fall in 29 years – with per capita GDP crashing 2.2%:
Gross domestic product (GDP) fell 1.6 percent in the March 2020 quarter, the largest drop in 29 years, as the initial effects of COVID-19 restrictions impacted on economic activity, Stats NZ said today.
This quarter’s GDP results showed a widespread drop in economic activity as travel restrictions took hold and the country moved towards lockdown. COVID-19 effects came on top of the smaller impact from drought in some parts of the country.
