"Further rate hikes unlikely"
According to Rabobank, inflation expectations in the New Zealand economy are headed in the right direction, with interest rate relief on the cards for the second half of 2024.
The official cash rate (OCR) has been left unchanged at 2.5%.
Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler says the OCR is expected to remain unchanged until the end of the year.
"The global outlook remains mixed, with the euro area still in recession and signs of slower growth in China and Australia, but more positive recent indicators in the United States and Japan. Global debt markets have become more cautious due to uncertainty around the Federal Reserve's anticipated exit from quantitative easing," he says.
Growth in the New Zealand economy is picking up and, although uneven, is becoming more widespread across sectors, he says.
"Consumption is increasing and reconstruction in Canterbury will be reinforced by a broader national recovery in construction activity, particularly in Auckland. This will support aggregate activity and eventually help to ease the housing shortage."
Wheeler acknowledges the high dollar remains a problem.
"Despite having fallen on a trade-weighted basis since May 2013, the New Zealand dollar remains high and continues to be a headwind for the tradables sector, restricting export earnings and encouraging demand for imports."
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
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