Nosh's new boss is brimming with ideas for driving sales at the upmarket grocery chain - but offering cut-price milk isn't one of them.

Consumer confidence has dipped but the overall mood still points to an improving economy, according to latest data.

Retailers in Auckland boutique premier shopping zone High St are worried about possible street changes.

To say Di Humphries beat the odds to become the high-powered businesswoman she is today would be an understatement.

Auckland Council has voted against tougher controls to stop big box retails stores opening up close to small town centres.

The Ministry for Primary Industries says it is exploring interim measures to strengthen consumer assurances about dairy production after the recent food contamination scares.

Culture - it's a word that can be filled with meaning or thrown about in a way that means nothing at all.

Consumers turned out in force in the June quarter, with core retail sales rising 2.3 per cent in real terms, the fastest clip since September 2011.

JB Hi-Fi has defied a difficult trading environment to lift sales and profit, and expects the trend to continue for the next 12 months.