The economic situation for many people shows no sign of improvement, despite two reports signalling strong economic confidence and growth, the Federation of Family Budgeting Services says.
The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research's consensus forecast of 10 surveys predicts the economy will pick up from the present rate of 2.9 percent to 3.6 percent growth by March next year.
As well, the latest Consumer Confidence Index has risen to its highest level since 2005.
But Federation of Family Budgeting Services president Raewyn Fox said its clients were likely to experience more pain before the benefits of a strengthening economy trickled down.
"In the last three or four weeks, we've seen the possibility of people's mortgages going up and their power bills going up," Ms Fox said.
"So at this stage, actually people are looking at it getting tougher before it gets any better."
Surveys reporting economic confidence bore no resemblance to the situation budget advisers saw every day, she said.
