Inflation is a problem in New Zealand. Today’s Consumers Price Index is a strong confirmation of this. Yes, we all know fuel prices are currently the main contributor to households’ cost of living misery, and this will be the focus of most headline writers. But the worrying aspect of today’s data is not the impact of fuel but the depth and breadth of price increases across the economy. For the central bank, even the headline reading will be disconcerting. Prices rose 1.5% for the June quarter, 4.1% for the year. When releasing its July Monetary Policy Review the RBNZ announced it was lowering its annual inflation ... (full story)