ANZ Bank expects OCR at 3.5% by August 2025

ANZ Bank expects OCR at 3.5% by August 2025
Sharon Zollner, ANZ's chief economist. (Image: NZME)
Rebecca Howard
ANZ Bank now expects the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to kick off a series of rate cuts in August that will see the official cash rate at 3.5% in 12 months, down from the current 5.5%.“On our current forecasts, by the September quarter, inflation is back in the band, unemployment has cracked the 5% market and is still rising, and the output gap is deeply negative,” ANZ's chief economist, Sharon Zollner, said. “With this economic data in the rear-view mirror, the risk of seeing inflation run away again would be much sma...

More Economy

Updated: RBNZ turns more dovish
Economy

Updated: RBNZ turns more dovish

The latest forecast imply two more rate cuts to come. 

RBNZ cuts to 3%, sees cash rate reaching 2.5%
Economy

RBNZ cuts to 3%, sees cash rate reaching 2.5%

RBNZ cuts by 25bps but thought about 50bps. 

Government keeps AA+ credit rating, Fitch warns to keep ‘culture of fiscal responsibility
Economy

Government keeps AA+ credit rating, Fitch warns to keep ‘culture of fiscal responsibility

The Government has kept its AA+ credit rating from Fitch, one of the big three ratings agencies – but the agency warned that a slackening culture of fiscal responsibility, a more severe housing market correction, or an unemployment spike could see the rating reduced in future.The...

Staff reporters 18 Aug 2025