For the third quarter in a row, Bay of Plenty residents remain more positive about their region's economic outlook than any other region in New Zealand.

It's the third quarter in a row the December Westpac McDermott Miller Regional Economic Confidence survey has found Bay residents' economic outlook was positive.

The survey shows 41 per cent of households are upbeat about the prospects for the region over the next year, placing the region ahead of Otago, which is in second place.

Westpac industry economist David Norman says the survey showed the positive sentiment has persisted in the Bay since June 2013, and is the highest reading since December 2009.

'A resurgent kiwifruit industry, strong house price growth, and falling unemployment all point to this rise in optimism.

'Electronic card sales were up 8.4 per cent in the September 2015, quarter, compared to the same quarter last year, and house prices were up strongly in the region's largest city, Tauranga.”

David says guest nights grew 3.3 per cent in the three months to October 2015, compared to the same period a year ago.

'At the same time, we must acknowledge that the economic outlook does vary across the region. Our view is that the west is looking a lot rosier than the east, where a tepid forestry sector means views on the outlook are likely to be more mixed.”

Separately, the Westpac McDermott Miller survey also examines consumer confidence, producing an index that summarises responses to questions including how respondents view their own financial situation, and their current willingness to buy a major household item.

The regional breakdown of the Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index showed Bay of Plenty consumer confidence remains quite subdued, at 109.6, up by 2.6 points since September. This compares to a national average of 110.7, which was up 4.7 points.

'The regional economic confidence and consumer confidence numbers, seen together, tell an interesting story,” David says.

'Although households are overwhelmingly optimistic about the outlook for the region, consumers are less bubbly about their own situation.”

David says a net 18 per cent of respondents believe now is a good time to buy a big ticket household item, but this is only the eighth highest result across the 11 regions.

The survey was conducted over the period December 1 to 11, 2015.