NZ cash rate unchanged at 2.5%
(26 October 2012 – New Zealand) New Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) governor, Graeme Wheeler left the official interest rate unchanged at 2.5 percent this month.
Wheeler backed his decision by saying that while the global picture was still fragile, the mood was improving.
The New Zealand economy was improving modestly and the housing market was rising, while the Canterbury rebuild was gaining steam.
Unfortunately, the high New Zealand dollar was hurting exports and government belt-tightening was keeping domestic demand in check.
Wheeler said:' For now it remains appropriate for the OCR to be held at 2.5 percent.'
'The global economy remains fragile, with further recovery heavily dependent on policy implementation. That said, market sentiment has improved from earlier in the year, suggesting the risks to the global outlook are more balanced.
'Domestically, GDP continues to expand at a modest pace. Housing market activity is increasing as expected, and repairs and reconstruction in Canterbury are boosting the construction sector. Offsetting this, fiscal consolidation is constraining demand growth, and the high New Zealand dollar is undermining export earnings and encouraging substitution toward imported goods and services.
'While annual CPI inflation has fallen to 0.8 percent, the Bank continues to expect inflation to head back towards the middle of the target range. We will continue to monitor inflation indicators, such as pricing intention and inflation expectation data, closely over coming months,' he said.
Wheeler took over from former governor Alan Bollard last month, this was his first monetary policy announcement.
The New Zealand economy was improving modestly and the housing market was rising, while the Canterbury rebuild was gaining steam.
Unfortunately, the high New Zealand dollar was hurting exports and government belt-tightening was keeping domestic demand in check.
Wheeler said:' For now it remains appropriate for the OCR to be held at 2.5 percent.'
'The global economy remains fragile, with further recovery heavily dependent on policy implementation. That said, market sentiment has improved from earlier in the year, suggesting the risks to the global outlook are more balanced.
'Domestically, GDP continues to expand at a modest pace. Housing market activity is increasing as expected, and repairs and reconstruction in Canterbury are boosting the construction sector. Offsetting this, fiscal consolidation is constraining demand growth, and the high New Zealand dollar is undermining export earnings and encouraging substitution toward imported goods and services.
'While annual CPI inflation has fallen to 0.8 percent, the Bank continues to expect inflation to head back towards the middle of the target range. We will continue to monitor inflation indicators, such as pricing intention and inflation expectation data, closely over coming months,' he said.
Wheeler took over from former governor Alan Bollard last month, this was his first monetary policy announcement.
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