News

OCR up 50pts: Here is what the bank said

Why the RBNZ hiked the OCR 50 basis points.

Wednesday, May 25th 2022

The Monetary Policy Committee today increased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 2%. The Committee agreed it remains appropriate to continue to tighten monetary conditions at pace to maintain price stability and support maximum sustainable employment.

The Committee is resolute in its commitment to ensure consumer price inflation returns to within the 1 to 3% target range.

Consistent with the economic outlook and risks ahead, monetary conditions need to act as a constraint on demand until there is a better match with New Zealand’s productive capacity. A larger and earlier increase in the OCR reduces the risk of inflation becoming persistent, while also providing more policy flexibility ahead in light of the highly uncertain global economic environment.

The level of global economic activity is generating rising inflation pressures, exacerbated by ongoing supply disruptions driven by both COVID-19 persistence and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The latter continues to cause very high prices for food and energy commodities.

The pace of global economic growth is slowing. The broad-based tightening in global monetary and financial conditions is acting to slow spending growth, accentuated by the high costs of basic food and energy staples. European geopolitical uncertainty is also weighing heavily on business confidence and investment intentions worldwide. Likewise, Covid-19 restrictions in significant regions of China are exacerbating supply chain disruptions and adding cost and complexity to trade.

In New Zealand, underlying strength remains in the economy, supported by a strong labour market, sound household balance sheets, continued fiscal support, and a strong terms of trade. The reduction in Covid-19 health-related restrictions is also enabling increased economic activity, including hospitality and tourism.

However, headwinds are strong. Heightened global economic uncertainty and higher inflation are dampening global and domestic consumer confidence. Asset prices, in particular house prices, have also declined, reflecting in part higher mortgage interest rates and increased supply of housing.

On balance, a broad range of indicators highlight that productive capacity constraints and ongoing inflation pressures remain prevalent. Employment remains above its maximum sustainable level, with labour shortages now the major constraint on production. The Reserve Bank’s core inflation measures are above 3 percent.

The Committee agreed to continue to lift the OCR at pace to a level that will confidently bring consumer price inflation to within the target range. The Committee viewed the projected path of the OCR as consistent with achieving its primary inflation and employment objectives without causing unnecessary instability in output, interest rates and the exchange rate. Once aggregate supply and demand are more in balance, the OCR can then return to a lower, more neutral, level.

Comments

No comments yet

Unity 6.99
Heartland Bank - Online 6.99
ICBC 7.05
SBS FirstHome Combo 7.05
China Construction Bank 7.09
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 7.10
Wairarapa Building Society 7.15
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 7.30
Kiwibank Special 7.35
BNZ - Classic 7.35
TSB Special 7.39
China Construction Bank 6.75
Heartland Bank - Online 6.85
ICBC 6.85
Wairarapa Building Society 6.94
Unity 6.99
Westpac Special 6.99
Kiwibank Special 7.05
ASB Bank 7.05
BNZ - Classic 7.05
AIA - Go Home Loans 7.05
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 7.05
China Construction Bank 6.40
Westpac Special 6.49
ICBC 6.49
ASB Bank 6.69
AIA - Go Home Loans 6.69
BNZ - Classic 6.75
Kiwibank Special 6.79
SBS Bank Special 6.79
TSB Special 6.79
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 6.85
Kainga Ora 6.99
SBS FirstHome Combo 6.19
AIA - Back My Build 6.19
ANZ Blueprint to Build 7.39
Credit Union Auckland 7.70
ICBC 7.85
Heartland Bank - Online 7.99
Pepper Money Essential 8.29
Co-operative Bank - Standard 8.40
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 8.40
Kiwibank 8.50
Kiwibank - Offset 8.50

More Stories

Too expensive and wrong – new property manager regulations needed

Thursday, November 30th 2023

Too expensive and wrong – new property manager regulations needed

The Residential Property Managers Association (RPMA) wants a completely new property managers bill and is hoping to meet with Housing Minister Chris Bishop shortly to get work underway.

Weaker than expected

Wednesday, November 29th 2023

Weaker than expected

ANZ is predicting house prices to fall 0.4% over the rest of the year, versus the 0.2% rise it had previously forecast.

New Government – new property rules

Tuesday, November 28th 2023

New Government – new property rules

The newly formed Coalition Government is getting right down to work and it means quite a bit for the property sector.

Solving the rental shortage – new legislation and a change of attitude

Tuesday, November 21st 2023

Solving the rental shortage – new legislation and a change of attitude

Every MP in the new National-led Government will be sent a letter by the New Zealand Property Investors Federation (NZPIF) outlining how the shortage of rental housing can be alleviated.