A bit of an economic mixed bag has 2024 shaping up to be a fairly flat year

ASB's March forecast reveals a slow grind for the next three to six months - until interest rates ease and consumer spending gets more puff.

Ongoing migration is helping to boost activity overall but creating challenges for job seekers in the employment sphere.

Chief Economist Nick Tuffley says we just have to persevere and be patient.

He says light is at the end of the tunnel with inflation on its way down - opening the way for the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates and get the economy firing up again.