Further rate hikes look to be off the table

The annual inflation rate dropped back to a lower-than-expected 5.6%. (Image: Getty)

Tue, 17 Oct 2023

It looks like further rate hikes are off the table, at least for now. The perceived chance of a rate hike by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) in November dropped from around 34% to 10% after Tuesday's consumers price index (CPI) data showed that annual inflation eased to 5.6% in the September quarter.The chance of any further rate hike dropped from around 84% to 40%, according to BNZ Bank's head of research, Stephen Toplis. A first-rate cut is now priced in for February 2025, a few months earlier than previously. &#...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Infrastructure

Eaqub: Pipeline hits $275b but certainty stops at next election

Economist highlights drop-off in planned infra spending after 2026.

Dileepa Fonseka 5:00am

Retail

ForBarr sticks to underperform on The Warehouse Group

Analysts say they need to see tangible improvement.

Rebecca Howard 5:00am

ForBarr sticks to underperform on The Warehouse Group

Opinion

Peter Griffin: AI is reshaping work – but not the way you think

AI isn’t the job killer many predicted it would become.

Peter Griffin 5:00am

AI is reshaping work – but not the way you think

Sponsored

Cybersecurity skills gap leaving Kiwi businesses at risk - report

A cybersecurity skills shortage is creating additional cyber risks, according to a new global report.

Fortinet

Sponsored

Spark’s partner strategy sets the bar for innovation

Spark

More Economy

Economy

No obstacles to RBNZ rate cut next week

The RBNZ is expected to cut the OCR to 2.25% and leave the door open for more.

Rebecca Howard 18 Nov 2025

Economy

Food prices lift 4.7% in 12 months to October

Food prices increased by 4.7% in the 12 months to October, although they fell for the second consecutive month, down 0.3% due to lower vegetable prices.Higher prices for the grocery food group were the largest contributor, up 4.9% on an annual basis, while meat, poultry and fish...

Staff reporters 17 Nov 2025