NZ consumer prices rise 0.4% in 1Q as weak kiwi, rising oil boosts petrol costs

NZ consumer prices rise 0.4% in 1Q as weak kiwi, rising oil boosts petrol costs
By Paul McBeth July 16 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand consumer prices rose in the second three months of the year as a weaker currency and higher global oil prices lifted the cost of petrol, and housing continued to get more expensive. The consumers price index rose 0.4 percent in the three months ended June 30, turning around two quarters of deflation, according to Statistics New Zealand. That was in line with the Reserve Bank's forecast in its June monetary policy statement, though below the 0.6 percent increase predicted in a Reuters pol...