Economy hits speed wobbles

• Figures out this week could show the economy ended 2016 growing only as fast as the population, amid warnings of the start of a slowdown.

On Thursday Statistics New Zealand will release gross domestic product (GDP) figures for the three months to December 31, a measure of the total economic output of the New Zealand economy.

Economists expect the economy grew by about 0.7 per cent in the December quarter, a fall from the 1.1 per cent growth in the previous quarter.

While construction continues to boom, a wet spring is likely to mean agricultural sector contracted slightly at the end of 2016.

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SIMON MAUDE/FAIRFAX NZ