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2026-04-08 14:05:18
[Westpac: RBNZ Rate Hike May Be Earlier in September] (1) Kelly Eckhold, chief economist for New Zealand at Westpac Bank, said the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) may raise interest rates earlier than previously expected in December, in September. (2) She noted that although the central bank kept rates unchanged earlier, its comments were tight, with concerns about rising second-round inflationary pressures being quite prominent. (3) If evidence of the impact of second-round inflation increases, the balance of risks leans towards raising rates before September. Westpac has moved forward its previous expectation of tightening by 25 basis points at each meeting, expecting it to begin in September.
