The latest survey of the services sector shows looming interest rate rises are not hurting trading expectations.
The Bank of New Zealand/BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index rose 2.3 points from August, to 55.6 in September.
A reading above 50 indicates expansion.
BNZ economist Doug Steel says the September results are more important than they look because a series of softer spots in the August survey have gone.
He says with the sector's confidence at a 14 year high, the figures bode well for the economy.
"It suggests that GDP growth in the service sector is picking up, we think the service sector will make quite a strong contribution to economic growth in the third quarter and probably the fourth quarter as well," he says.
"It bodes well for the overall economic expansion gathering a bit of pace in the second half of 2013."
Mr Steel says more firms are taking the view that interest rates are going to rise, but despite that, their confidence is high and the survey results suggest they are making more sales.
He says that suggests businesses can handle the predicted rise in interest rates next year.
