Prefu Reveals Cautious Green Shoots For Economy

Grant Marshall from Christian Savings unpacks this week's Pre-election Economic Fiscal Update (Prefu), weighing up what the government's books reveal ahead of the November election. He notes modest good news - an economy forecast to be $16 billion larger by 2030, unemployment at 5.2% (better than the 5.5% forecast), and net core Crown debt peaking at 43.9% of GDP before easing to 39.5% with an earlier-than-expected return to surplus - while cautioning these are forecasts, not guarantees, given ongoing global shocks from the Middle East and Ukraine.

Marshall argues the real value of Prefu is helping voters test whether party promises are realistic, rather than funding a "pre-election lolly scramble" through extra taxes or borrowing. He reflects that election-related uncertainty naturally unsettles economic confidence, but stresses that Christians should ultimately trust in God's sovereignty over any treasury report or finance minister, highlighting how Christian Savings channels depositor funds into church and charity property projects to build God's kingdom in New Zealand ([www.christiansavings.co.nz](https://www.christiansavings.co.nz)).

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