WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand’s central bank raised interest rates by 50 basis points to 2.50% on Wednesday, its sixth rate hike in a row in an effort to get on top of inflation.
Twenty of the 22 economists in the Reuters poll forecast the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) would hike the official cash rate (OCR) by 50 basis points to 2.50%. Two economists expected a 25 basis point hike.
“The Committee agreed it remains appropriate to continue to tighten monetary conditions at pace to maintain price stability and support maximum sustainable employment,” the RBNZ said in a statement.
(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
