The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) left its Official Cash Rate (OCR) at a record low of 1.0 percent, unchanged since August last year.
In 2019 it cut the rate twice by a total of 75 basis points, starting in May when it became the first central bank among developed economies to slash its interest rate and provide a dose of monetary stimulus in response to slowing global growth, hit by uncertainty amid trade conflicts.
Since the second rate cut in August 2019, RBNZ has kept the rate steady, saying it would remain at a low level for a prolonged period and it would add further monetary stimulus if needed to achieve its inflation and employment objectives.
In today's policy statement, RBNZ's monetary policy committee dropped the earlier reference to adding further stimulus if needed, noting additional fiscal stimulus is helping reduce the burden on monetary policy and economic growth is expected to accelerate over the second half of 2020.
In December New Zealand's government announced an investment package of $12 billion, or around 4 percent of gross domestic product, with some $8 billion to be spent between June 2022 and June 2024, mainly on infrastructure.
However, policy makers still agreed low interest rates were needed to keep inflation and employment close to the targets and the outbreak of the coronavirus in China is "an emerging downside risk."
At this point, RBNZ said it assumes the economic impact on New Zealand from the coronavirus will be short and mostly felt in the first half of 2020.
But it also acknowledged that some sectors of the economy, such as tourism and trade, were being significantly affected and although the understanding of the duration and impact of the outbreak was changing quickly, it agreed "the coronavirus outbreak was a risk global growth in 2020."
"The Committee discussed the monetary policy implications if the impacts of the outbreak were larger and more persistent than assumed and agreed that monetary policy had time to adjust if needed as more information became available," RBNZ said.
New Zealand's dollar, known as the kiwi, has eased this year but jumped 0.6 percent in response to RBNZ's decision to 1.55 to the U.S. dollar. But it remains 3.9 percent down from the start of this year.
In an update to its economic projections, RBNZ maintained its forecast for OCR to average 1.2 percent this year but raised it to 1.0 percent in 2021 from November's forecast of 0.9 percent, implying rates will be held steady.
For 2022 OCR is seen rising to 1.3 percent, from an earlier 1.1 percent, and then to 1.7 percent in 2023.
Headline inflation is seen averaging 2.2 percent this year, up from 1.5 percent in 2019, but then easing to 1.7 percent in 2021, before rising back to 2.1 percent in 2022 and 2.0 percent in 2023.
Gross domestic product is seen averaging 1.9 percent this year, down from November's forecast of 2.1 percent and down from 2019's 3.1 percent.
In 2021 New Zealand's economy is seen growing 2.9 percent, then 2.6 percent in 2022 and 2.0 percent in 2023.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand issued the following statements:
"Tēnā koutou katoa, welcome all.
The Monetary Policy Committee has decided to keep the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 1.0 percent.
Employment is at or slightly above its maximum sustainable level while consumer price inflation is close to the 2 percent mid-point of our target range. Low interest rates remain necessary to keep employment and inflation around target.
Economic growth is expected to accelerate over the second half of 2020 driven by monetary and fiscal stimulus, and the high terms of trade. The outlook for government investment is stronger following the Government’s announcements in December. There are also indications household spending growth will increase.
However, soft momentum in economic growth has continued into early 2020. Slower global growth over 2019 acted as a headwind to domestic growth. In addition, competitive pressures and recent subdued business confidence have suppressed business investment.
The global economic environment has shown signs of stabilising and trade tensions have receded somewhat. However, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak is an emerging downside risk.
We assume the overall economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak in New Zealand will be of a short duration, with most of the impacts in the first half of 2020. Nevertheless, some sectors are being significantly affected. There is a risk that the impact will be larger and more persistent. Monetary policy has time to adjust if needed as more information becomes available.
Meitaki, thanks.
Summary Record of Meeting - February 2020 Statement
The Monetary Policy Committee noted that employment was at or slightly above its maximum sustainable level while consumer price inflation was close to the 2 percent target mid-point. The Committee agreed that low interest rates had helped to get employment and inflation to around their target levels.
The Committee agreed that recent developments were consistent with continuing to meet their inflation and employment objectives, but the coronavirus situation was a complicating factor given how quickly it was changing and the limited information available.
The Committee discussed the reasons for an expected pick-up in growth over 2020, including monetary and fiscal stimulus and the high terms of trade.
The members noted the Government’s announcement in December that it plans to invest more over the projection period. The Committee discussed that the impact of fiscal stimulus could be greater than assumed. This risk was balanced by potential delays in implementing approved spending and investment programmes.
The Committee noted that household spending growth was expected to accelerate due to lower interest rates and rising household wealth. Some members noted that the increase in consumption growth could be more persistent than projected.
The members noted that the high terms of trade has partly offset the effect of slower trading-partner growth on the New Zealand economy. Some members noted that export prices could ease by more than projected given some of the temporary factors lifting meat and dairy prices.
The Committee noted the strong labour market, and agreed it was an expected outcome of monetary stimulus. The members discussed the contribution of the tight labour market to wage pressure and any flow on to consumer price inflation, and noted the effects of recent minimum wage increases, pay equity settlements, and large collective agreements in public sector. Some members noted the potential for further upward wage pressure.
Although GDP growth was expected to rise, some members noted downside risks to near-term production.
The members noted the signs of stabilisation in global growth and that trade tensions had receded somewhat. However, they noted these signs were early and tentative and they agreed the coronavirus outbreak was a risk to global growth in 2020.
The Committee discussed the challenges facing the rural sector and the impact on the rest of the economy. The members noted the changes to environment policy, tightening credit conditions over 2019, recent dry conditions in parts of the North Island, floods in Southland, and the coronavirus outbreak. The members discussed how these challenges could dampen economic activity.
The members discussed the business investment outlook and noted that business sentiment remains low despite its recent improvement. The members noted that stretched capacity in the construction sector could see government projects compete resources away from the private sector, but they also noted the opportunities that new infrastructure creates for total investment. The members noted upside and downside risks to the business investment outlook.
The Committee discussed the initial assumption that the overall economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak in New Zealand will be of a short duration. The members acknowledged that some sectors were being significantly affected. They noted that their understanding of the duration and impact of the outbreak was changing quickly. The Committee discussed the monetary policy implications if the impacts of the outbreak were larger and more persistent than assumed and agreed that monetary policy had time to adjust if needed as more information became available.
The Committee discussed financial stability risks from ongoing low rates. The members noted the Bank’s assessment that marginal changes to the OCR would not materially affect these risks at this time.
The members discussed the better mix of policy stimulus in the projections, given additional fiscal stimulus is reducing the burden on monetary policy.
The Committee discussed alternative OCR settings and the various trade-offs involved. The Committee agreed that ongoing low interest rates were needed to keep inflation and employment close to their mandated targets.
The Committee reached a consensus to keep the OCR at 1.0 percent."
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