Inflation a hurdle for advisers this year
Annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation is back up to 1.6% after dropping to 0.7% in the June quarter last year, the lowest level of inflation since 1999 and below the Reserve Bank’s target range of 1-3%.
In its latest forecast, the BNZ predicted the CPI would rise above the top of the target range, reaching 3.1% by 2016 and forcing the Reserve Bank to hike interest rates.
Christian Hawkesby, head of fixed income at Harbour Asset Management, said inflation risks were on the up-side looking forward and it’s not a stretch to suggest inflation could top 3% within a couple of years.
“We’ve gone through a period when inflation has been unusually low in New Zealand, below the bottom of the target range,” he said.
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