NZ inflation up 0.4 percent in 1Q, led by tobacco, higher prescription charges

Tue, 16 Apr 2013

By Paul McBeth April 17 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand consumer prices rose in line with expectations in the first three months of the year, led by more expensive cigarettes and tobacco from rising excise duty and higher costs for prescription medicines. The consumers' price index increased 0.4 percent in the three months ended March 31, matching the consensus forecast among economists, for an annual pace of 0.9 percent, according to Statistics New Zealand. That was led by a 12 percent lift in the price of cigarettes from a 10 percent hike in...

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