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 9% of firms are expecting general economic conditions to improve.

This is a jump from a net 4% feeling downbeat three months prior.

Infometrics’ Brad Olsen told Tim Beveridge that it’s definitely a good sign, however at the same time, around 26% of businesses said they had less business activity in the December quarter.

He says this could indicate the recession continued through until the end of the year.

Olsen says there’s quite a clear feeling that while last year was tough, there are better things to come.

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The strong US jobs report is out and raising questions about further interest rate cuts.

A quarter of a million jobs were added to the market in December, causing the unemployment rate to drop to 4.1%.

As employment rose stock prices fell as a result of such strong labour market data.

Economist Brad Olsen joins the show to discuss how this will affect New Zealand, the Prime Ministers trip to the UAE and oil prices rising 3% over the weekend.

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Several Greens members have been caught asking to use the private carparks belonging to Wellington retailers for a party event.

These retailers were impacted by Green-led cycleway project, which took away on-street parking in the area.

Independent Business and Residential Group chairwoman Urmila Bhana says this cycleway has negatively impacted several businesses.

"Businesses are down 60, 80, 100 percent, they're either moving, closing, or heading into liquidation. And that's nothing to do with the recession, it's the carpark removal."

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