Mark Smith

'Whatever your point of comparison it seems the worst-case scenario could be a lot worse than Treasury envisages,' BNZ head of research says, as projections see inflation hitting 3.8% and in some cases, pushing past 4%

'Whatever your point of comparison it seems the worst-case scenario could be a lot worse than Treasury envisages,' BNZ head of research says, as projections see inflation hitting 3.8% and in some cases, pushing past 4%

Governor Anna Breman says Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee isn’t planning on hiking the Official Cash Rate ‘until we see more inflationary pressures and a stronger economy’

Governor Anna Breman says Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee isn’t planning on hiking the Official Cash Rate ‘until we see more inflationary pressures and a stronger economy’

Positive indicators in labour market details, but Kiwibank economists say we need to see 'the labour market really turn, not just stabilise, to have confidence in the recovery'

Positive indicators in labour market details, but Kiwibank economists say we need to see 'the labour market really turn, not just stabilise, to have confidence in the recovery'

Labour market figures to be released in the coming week will likely show an improving picture overall for employment, but that might not yet be enough to see the unemployment rate drop from the nearly nine-year high it hit in September

Labour market figures to be released in the coming week will likely show an improving picture overall for employment, but that might not yet be enough to see the unemployment rate drop from the nearly nine-year high it hit in September

‘Our new laser-focussed-on-inflation RBNZ Governor will not be amused’: Economists say OCR hike in 2026 ‘likelier than not’ following latest annual inflation figures

‘Our new laser-focussed-on-inflation RBNZ Governor will not be amused’: Economists say OCR hike in 2026 ‘likelier than not’ following latest annual inflation figures

December quarter Consumers Price Index figures may show our inflation rate once again above the 1% to 3% target range. How new RBNZ Governor Anna Breman will respond to our stubborn high prices in her first OCR review next month will be keenly watched

December quarter Consumers Price Index figures may show our inflation rate once again above the 1% to 3% target range. How new RBNZ Governor Anna Breman will respond to our stubborn high prices in her first OCR review next month will be keenly watched

ASB economist warns CPI inflation may have ended 2025 above 3% as food prices rise and strong electricity and gas price rises continue, according to Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes

ASB economist warns CPI inflation may have ended 2025 above 3% as food prices rise and strong electricity and gas price rises continue, according to Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes

Nicola Willis 'won't overreact' to forecast fiscal changes as ANZ economists say ‘substantial policy change’ is needed to tackle the likes of ageing population costs

Nicola Willis 'won't overreact' to forecast fiscal changes as ANZ economists say ‘substantial policy change’ is needed to tackle the likes of ageing population costs

There are ‘no obstacles’ to another Official Cash Rate cut, economists say, and they expect inflation to fall as Statistics New Zealand’s latest Selected Price Indexes shows annual food prices up 4.7% in October

There are ‘no obstacles’ to another Official Cash Rate cut, economists say, and they expect inflation to fall as Statistics New Zealand’s latest Selected Price Indexes shows annual food prices up 4.7% in October

Labour market figures to be released in the coming week may show the unemployment rate hitting a nearly nine-year high - but the figures might also indicate the jobs market is now starting to stabilise

Labour market figures to be released in the coming week may show the unemployment rate hitting a nearly nine-year high - but the figures might also indicate the jobs market is now starting to stabilise

Latest monthly filled jobs data shows a rise - but Statistics NZ has revised down figures for the previous two months and these now show no gain for those months

Latest monthly filled jobs data shows a rise - but Statistics NZ has revised down figures for the previous two months and these now show no gain for those months

‘Game on!’: Economists get more than they expect from the Reserve Bank as it makes a 'bold' move projecting the Official Cash Rate to go as low as 2.5%

‘Game on!’: Economists get more than they expect from the Reserve Bank as it makes a 'bold' move projecting the Official Cash Rate to go as low as 2.5%

Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes show that food prices rose 1.2% in June and the annual increase was the highest since December 2023; rent prices, however, had their lowest annual increase since 2011; CPI to be announced on Monday

Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes show that food prices rose 1.2% in June and the annual increase was the highest since December 2023; rent prices, however, had their lowest annual increase since 2011; CPI to be announced on Monday

Monthly filled jobs data shows a slight rise in May, but figures for the previous two months have been revised down; the primary sector is a ray of sunshine in a gloomy labour market

Monthly filled jobs data shows a slight rise in May, but figures for the previous two months have been revised down; the primary sector is a ray of sunshine in a gloomy labour market

Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes show that food prices rose 4.4% in the past year, while rent prices had their lowest annual increase since 2015; CPI seen heading toward top of RBNZ's target range

Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes show that food prices rose 4.4% in the past year, while rent prices had their lowest annual increase since 2015; CPI seen heading toward top of RBNZ's target range