Inflation: here to stay or going away?

Inflation: here to stay or going away?
The purchasing power of a $100 bill is falling at the fastest rate in decades.
Andy Fyers
Inflation looks set to be the big economic story of 2022, especially the question of whether it is 'transitory' or persistent. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has already put one foot into the persistent camp in 2021, bringing forward its plans to increase the official cash rate (OCR) and hiking it twice by 25 basis points in the second half of the year.Its current OCR projections top out at 2.6%, while ANZ is forecasting a 3% OCR by April 2023. Not all bank economists agree - ASB's forecast is a peak OCR of 2%.Here are...

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Westpac records soft December retail spending
Economy

Westpac records soft December retail spending

Despite a slight lift, Westpac data points to a soft end of year for household spending.Westpac’s retail tracker, released on Thursday, showed spending on Westpac-issued credit and debit cards was up 2% in December compared to last year.  Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchhod...

Price shakeup for cigarette brand
Retail

Price shakeup for cigarette brand

Cigarette prices typically go up each year. Not in this case.

Employment confidence ticks up in December quarter
Economy

Employment confidence ticks up in December quarter

A further indicator of some stabilisation in the labour market. 

Rebecca Howard 15 Jan 2025
Business confidence stutters into 2025
Economy

Business confidence stutters into 2025

Nothing to stop a 50 point interest rate cut next month, says NZIER.

Pattrick Smellie 14 Jan 2025