UPDATE: Weaker than expected jobs data in 4Q raises rate cut prospects

Wed, 06 Feb 2019

(Updates throughout with market pricing, economist comment) By Rebecca Howard Feb. 7 (BusinessDesk) - Fewer people had jobs in the December quarter and wage inflation remained tepid, something that could increase the likelihood of a rate cut in New Zealand. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent in the three months ended Dec. 31, from a revised 4 percent in the September quarter, Statistics New Zealand said in its household labour force survey. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had tipped the unemployment rate to...

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