Annual NZ consumer prices rise 2.2% in 1Q, fastest lift since Sept 2011

Annual NZ consumer prices rise 2.2% in 1Q, fastest lift since Sept 2011
Rebecca Howard
By Rebecca Howard April 20 (BusinessDesk) -  New Zealand consumer prices rose at their fastest annual pace in five-and-a-half years in the first quarter of 2017 as rising fuel prices, a tax on cigarettes and tobacco and the hot housing market stoked inflation. The kiwi dollar rose to 70.34 US cents from 70.03 immediately prior to the release.  The consumers price index rose 1 percent in the three months to March 31 for an annual pace of 2.2 percent, Statistics New Zealand said. It was highest annual increase since the September 2011 qu...