Businesses are feeling optimistic they could be in for a better 2025

The latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion from the Institute of Economic Research reveals a net-nine-percent of firms are expecting general economic conditions to improve.

This is a jump from a net-four-percent feeling downbeat three months prior.

Business NZ's advocacy director Catherine Beard says activity's still been fairly subdued and businesses aren't out of the woods yet - but there's more confidence recent pressures may start to ease off.

She says a lot of that is due to interest rates coming down and hopefully allowing more consumer confidence.