MNI: RBNZ Leaves Key Rate Unchanged At 1.0%: Text

     WELLINGTON (MNI) - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand left its key cash rate

unchanged at 1.0% at the February 12 meeting.

     Following is the text of their statement:

     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.

     Attendees

     Reserve Bank staff: Adrian Orr, Geoff Bascand, Christian Hawkesby, Yuong Ha

     External: Bob Buckle, Peter Harris, Caroline Saunders 

     Observer: Tim Ng 

     Secretary: Chris McDonald

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MMNRB$,M$A$$$,M$N$$$,MT$$$$]