New Zealand Q4 Inflation Adds 0.1% On Quarter

(RTTNews) - Consumer prices in New Zealand were up an unadjusted 0.1 percent on quarter in the fourth quarter of 2018, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday.

That beat expectations for a flat reading following the 0.9 percent quarterly increase in the three months prior.

Housing and household utilities increased 3.1 percent, with rentals for housing up 2.4 percent, construction up 3.6 percent, and local authority rates up 5.1 percent.

On a yearly basis, consumer prices rose 1.9 percent - unchanged from the third quarter but exceeding expectations for an increase of 1.8 percent.