New Zealand Central Bank

New Zealand central bank cuts rates by 0.50%

New Zealand’s central bank has reduced its benchmark interest rate by 0.50% points following its monetary policy meeting, resulting in a consecutive interest rate reduction

This decrease sets the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s interest rate at 4.75%, down from 5.25%. Economists surveyed by Reuters had anticipated this move.

Previously in August, the RBNZ made an ‘unexpected’ interest rate cut of 25 basis points. The central bank indicated that the extent of future reductions would hinge on its confidence in maintaining a low inflation environment.

In a statement, the central bank stated that it ‘assesses that annual consumer price inflation is within its 1% to 3% inflation target range and converging on the 2 percent midpoint.

New Zealand’s annual inflation rate reached 7.3% in the June quarter 2022, its highest level in over some 30 years. NZ inflation has since dropped to 3.3% as of June 2024, but still remains above the central banks medium term target range of between 1% and 3%.

Analysts are expecting a further cut in November 2024.

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