RBNZ stays on hold at 5.5%, strikes more hawkish tone

RBNZ stays on hold at 5.5%, strikes more hawkish tone
(Image: Getty)
Rebecca Howard
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand kept rates on hold at 5.5% as widely expected but didn't close the door to further rate hikes. “Interest rates are restricting spending in the economy and consumer price inflation is declining, as is necessary to meet the committee’s remit,” the monetary policy committee said in a statement. While the committee is confident the current level of the official cash rate (OCR) is restricting demand, it remains concerned about ongoing excess demand and inflationary pressures."If in...

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Updated: RBNZ turns more dovish
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Updated: RBNZ turns more dovish

The latest forecast imply two more rate cuts to come. 

Rebecca Howard 20 Aug 2025
RBNZ cuts to 3%, sees cash rate reaching 2.5%
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RBNZ cuts to 3%, sees cash rate reaching 2.5%

RBNZ cuts by 25bps but thought about 50bps. 

Rebecca Howard 20 Aug 2025
Government keeps AA+ credit rating, Fitch warns to keep ‘culture of fiscal responsibility
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Government keeps AA+ credit rating, Fitch warns to keep ‘culture of fiscal responsibility

The Government has kept its AA+ credit rating from Fitch, one of the big three ratings agencies – but the agency warned that a slackening culture of fiscal responsibility, a more severe housing market correction, or an unemployment spike could see the rating reduced in future.The...

Staff reporters 18 Aug 2025