Interest rates have peaked, but only if RBNZ’s plan works

Interest rates have peaked, but only if RBNZ’s plan works
Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr is trying to squash inflation without starting a recession. (Photo: Getty)
Dan Brunskill
More than half of all outstanding fixed-rate mortgages will roll onto a new, higher interest rate over the next year, according to ASB’s research team.This has a lot of households weighing up whether to refix their loans for several years or to choose a short-term option in the hope that interest rates will come down.Two-year mortgage rates have already retreated from their recent high, falling from an average of 5.99% in June to 5.94% in July.However, economists have conflicting views on where market interest rates will go from here.In a...

More Economy

Manufacturing activity has contracted for 22 consecutive months
Economy

Manufacturing activity has contracted for 22 consecutive months

New Zealand’s manufacturing sector contracted in December, marking the first time in the survey’s history that all 12 months were in contraction. The seasonally adjusted Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) for December was 45.9, up from 45.2 in November but still well below...

Bank economists expect OCR rises in 2026
Economy

Bank economists expect OCR rises in 2026

‘A number closer to four takes the cash rate to neutral,’ says BNZ's Stephen Toplis. 

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...

Staff reporters 16 Jan 2025
Price shakeup for cigarette brand
Retail

Price shakeup for cigarette brand

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

Oliver Lewis 16 Jan 2025