RBNZ shifts to sole focus as inflation picture improves

Inflation staying hot will continue to worry RBNZ. (Image: Getty)

Thu, 14 Dec 2023

Annual inflation could fall below 5% in the fourth quarter, but economists say still-hot domestic inflation will continue to worry the central bank.Stats NZ published its selected price indexes data on Wednesday, a new monthly data set.Food prices fell 0.2% versus October while rents rose 0.3%. Domestic airfares were up 3.6% and international airfares fell 3.8%. Petrol was down 2.7% on the month.The data covers 45% of the consumer price index and “suggests the skew of near-term headline risks has shifted to the downside”, said...

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 }}

Finance

KiwiRail targets earnings jump in ‘sluggish’ economy

Operating earnings improved in most segments, other than ferry services.

Pattrick Smellie 5:00am

Markets

The NZ drug maker facing up to Trump's tariffs

Douglas Pharmaceuticals is raising cash to get a new drug approved. Where will it be made?

Rebecca Stevenson 5:00am

The NZ drug maker facing up to Trump's tariffs

Opinion

Peter Griffin: Meta’s teen accounts won’t stop ban hammer

Will Meta see Facebook and Instagram forced to become youth-free zones?

Peter Griffin 5:00am

Meta’s teen accounts won’t stop ban hammer

Sponsored

Fiji’s exclusive side revealed

Private islands and 5-star luxury, closer than you think.

Tourism Fiji

Sponsored

The double edge of AI in cyber security

Artificial intelligence has the potential to become both a lifeline and a liability for modern organisations, as a revolutionary tool capable of spotting threats at lightning speed, but also the ultimate weapon in the hands of cybercriminals.

Spark

More Economy

Economy

BNZ cuts one-year fixed mortgage rate below 4.5%

BNZ has cut its one-year fixed home loan rate to a market-leading 4.49%.The 26-basis-point (bps) cut, effective from Tuesday, is the lowest standard advertised rate among the major banks.The lowest one-year rate currently offered by ASB, ANZ, Westpac and Kiwibank is 4.75%.Karna L...

Staff reporters 30 Sep 2025