Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Government's efforts to secure the recovery have been reflected in the performance of small businesses. Xero's Small Business Index for June, which was released last week, hit a record monthly high driven by sales and jobs figures. For the fifth successive month, the index remained above 100, rising 17 points to 127, signalling stronger than average small-business activity. Sales across New Zealand jumped 11.7 percent in June, led by retail trade, manufacturing, construction, and hospitality. Jobs growth rose 5 percent, with the strongest regional growth in Northland and the Waikato. Wage growth also continues to increase, rising 3.7 percent year on year in June, its strongest growth rate since January 2020. Xero said, "seeing the … Index reach new heights [was] an encouraging sign that New Zealand's small business economy [was headed] in the right direction".