Treasury keeps half-year forecasts intact, sees kiwi dollar strength into next year

Treasury keeps half-year forecasts intact, sees kiwi dollar strength into next year
By Paul McBeth Feb. 13 (BusinessDesk) - The Treasury reckons its December forecasts for economic growth are still intact as New Zealand continues its gradual recovery, though the headwind of a strong kiwi dollar is likely to endure into next year. Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf told Parliament's finance and expenditure committee its forecast average annual growth of 2.5 percent in the coming five years is by and large intact, though the risks are still skewed to the downside, if not quite as extreme in the face of the US fiscal cliff debate and h...