Election result, remit change taking a back seat to inflation

Election result, remit change taking a back seat to inflation
The Reserve Bank has a mandate to control inflation. (Image: Getty)
Rebecca Howard
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand may well be mulling over whether the incoming government might change its remit, but it has far more immediate issues to worry about.Today’s third-quarter consumer price inflation data will take centre stage as the market weighs up whether more interest rate hikes are necessary.  So far, the central bank has lifted rates from 0.25% in August 2021 to 5.5% in a bid to curb inflation. While it has indicated that is the peak, economists have differing views about what might happen next. The RBNZ...

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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