RBNZ Delivers Back-to-Back Rate Hikes

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised its cash rate by 25 bps to 2.75%, delivering a second straight hike after an increase in July and in line with expectations. The decision reflects the need to gradually remove monetary stimulus and bring inflation back to the 2% target midpoint while supporting growth and employment. Annual inflation rose to 4.1% in Q2 2026, largely due to higher fuel prices stemming from the Middle East conflict. However, core inflation, wage growth and inflation expectations remain consistent with inflation returning to the 1-3% target band by mid-2027. The economy has likely resumed its recovery after lacklustre growth in Q2, supported by resilient external demand, export prices and investment in export-oriented sectors. Still, weak income growth, job insecurity and flat house prices weigh on household spending and residential investment. The Committee expects the recovery to strengthen and broaden but remains alert to risks of more persistent inflation.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised its cash rate by 25 bps to 2.50% at its July meeting, the first hike in three years and in line with expectations, as policymakers aimed to return inflation to the 2% target, while avoiding economic disruption. The central bank said the partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has lowered global oil, gas and petrochemical prices, easing near-term inflation pressures. Headline inflation is expected to decline from a peak of 3.9% in Q2 2026 to around 2% over the next 12 months. However, the Committee warned that the effects of the energy shock could persist, with medium-term risks tied to firms’ pricing behaviour, margin rebuilding and a weaker exchange rate. The economy lost momentum in the June quarter as higher energy costs weighed on activity, but growth is expected to recover in the September quarter as fuel prices ease and confidence improves. Policymakers noted that further increases remain possible, with the pace dependent on incoming data.

New Zealand’s Official Cash Rate ()CR) is likely to rise sooner and more sharply than indicated, Governor Anna Breman said in a speech on Friday. She noted that the global backdrop remains uncertain, with supply chain strains and higher input costs weighing on activity. “New Zealand and our trading partners are likely to see weaker growth alongside higher near-term inflation in response to the Middle East conflict,” she said. Breman viewed that inflation risks remain unclear, where elevated costs could keep price pressures high, though softer demand and rising unemployment may ease them later. Locally, she described business confidence as subdued and performance uneven, with parts of the primary sector holding up but other industries struggling under rising costs and weak demand. Breman added that the central bank is committed to restoring inflation to target while avoiding disruptive swings in the economy.