The US Federal Reserve surprised economists with its first interest rate cut in four years.

Rates have gone down by 0.5 percent to about 4.8 percent - a significant shift after two years of high rates designed to tame inflation.

Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie says the markets responded well to this move after pricing in potential cuts.

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Experts say today's GDP figures paint a dire picture of our economy - and it's unlikely things will recover right away.

New data shows GDP dropped 0.2 percent in the second quarter of 2024.

NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains why the economy is unlikely to recover in the coming months.

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One expert says today's GDP figures paint a bleak picture of the economy - but there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Stats NZ revealed this morning a 0.2 percent contraction for the three months to June, following 0.1 percent growth in the March quarter.

Kiwibank economist Jarrod Kerr says it's likely the economy won't start growing again until late 2025.

"The Reserve Bank's put a stake in the ground - they started cutting in August - and I think that'll mark the turning point."

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