Economic
Reserve Bank of New Zealand holds OCR steady at 2.25%
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has decided to maintain the Official Cash Rate at 2.25% in its latest policy move, signaling a cautious stance amid ongoing economic recovery.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand on Thursday maintained the Official Cash Rate at 2.25% in its March 2026 Monetary Policy Statement, reflecting a balance between supporting growth and controlling inflation. The decision comes as the economy continues to recover from a period of high interest rates, with GDP growth forecast to rise to around 1.7% for 2025/26 and unemployment expected to peak around 5.4% before easing later in the year. The bank signaled that the current rate remains below the estimated neutral level, aiming to encourage household spending and business investment without reigniting inflationary pressures. Policymakers emphasized data‑dependent guidance and warned that further easing would only occur if growth and inflation both undershoot. The unchanged OCR reinforces continuity in New Zealand’s monetary policy heading into the 2026 general election.
- Status
- active
- Location
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Date added
- 2026-03-26 07:14 UTC
- Last updated
- 2026-03-26 07:14 UTC
- Source
- Trading Economics
- Connected threats
- Not provided