Further rate hikes look to be off the table

Further rate hikes look to be off the table
The annual inflation rate dropped back to a lower-than-expected 5.6%. (Image: Getty)
Rebecca Howard
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. &#...

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