Reserve Bank expected to hike to 5%, highest in 14 years

Reserve Bank expected to hike to 5%, highest in 14 years
(Image: Getty)
Rebecca Howard
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is widely expected to lift the official cash rate by another 25 basis points to 5.00% on Wednesday and signal there’s more to come. The last time rates were at 5.00% was in December 2008. That was 14 years ago. Yes, the economy contracted an unexpected 0.6% in the December quarter, house prices are falling, and there’s been chaos in the global banking system but it all comes down to inflation and inflation expectations.The Reserve Bank of NZ's (RBNZ) chief economist, Paul Conway, was pre...

More Economy

Iron sand project could deliver $265m GDP boost: NZIER
Economy

Iron sand project could deliver $265m GDP boost: NZIER

Iron sands mining in Taranaki could create 1365 jobs, NZIER report says.

Trump’s tariffs may spur a more dovish RBNZ
Economy

Trump’s tariffs may spur a more dovish RBNZ

The risk appears more weighted to the RBNZ cutting the OCR further than otherwise.

NZX-listed companies take stock in wake of US tariff moves
Economy

NZX-listed companies take stock in wake of US tariff moves

Wine makers, manufacturers and others mull what trade wars will bring.

Ian Llewellyn 03 Apr 2025
Analysts struggle to find upside from Trump tariffs
Economy

Analysts struggle to find upside from Trump tariffs

‘They've forgotten the lessons of the Great Depression,’ one analyst said.

Gregor Thompson 03 Apr 2025