Westpac forecasting an even higher OCR
Westpac has increased its forecast for the official cash rate to 3%.
Thursday, November 4th 2021, 11:02AM
by Eric Frykberg
Along with most experts, the bank had been forecasting the Official Cash Rate to plateau at about 2%.
The last time the OCR was at this level Westpac's two-year fixed rate sat at 6% (see graph).
But Westpac now thinks a 2% OCR would not be enough to rein in inflationary pressures.
Its view has been affected by a record-equalling low of 3.4% unemployment, which it says is bound to push up wages.
The bank adds the Official Cash Rate peak of 3% will happen by mid-2023.
It says while that wouldn’t be particularly high compared with long term history, it would be a significant unwinding of the economic stimulus that was put in place in response to Covid-19.
It adds the OCR is unlikely to come back to 2% before 2025.
Westpac goes on to say there is a chance the RBNZ might abandon its practice of 25 basis point jumps in the OCR in favour of a much bigger leap of 50 basis points, each time it makes a move.
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