New Zealand consumer prices rose 6.7 percent on the year in the three months to March, down from 7.2 percent in the three months to December and below the consensus forecast for an increase of 7.1 percent. Headline inflation has now been above the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's target range of 1.0 percent to 3.0 percent for eight consecutive quarters. The index advanced 1.2 percent on the quarter after increasing 1.4 previously, also below the consensus forecast of 1.5 percent.

Ongoing strength in headline inflation in the three months to March was largely driven by a big increase in food prices, with vegetable and fruit prices up 8.6 percent and 11.0 percent respectively, in part reflecting the impact of severe weather events. An increase in tobacco taxes also pushed up headline CPI, with housing and construction costs also continuing to rise at a strong pace.This was partly offset by a year-over-year decline in petrol prices.

At the RBNZ's latest policy meeting, held early this month, officials reiterated their commitment to ensure inflation returns to its target range, increasing the official cash rate by 50 basis points to 5.25 percent. This rate has now been increased by a cumulative 500 basis points since October 2021. Officials assessed at this meeting that consumer inflation"is still too high and persistent" and concluded that policy needed to be tightened further"to ensure core inflation and inflation expectations begin to fall". Today's data showing a fall in headline inflation will be welcomed, but it is likely that officials will consider further policy tightening at their next meeting in May.

Consumer prices are expected to rise a quarterly 1.5 percent in the first quarter for a year-over-year rate of plus 7.1 percent. These would compare with respective fourth-quarter rates of 1.4 and 7.2 percent.

The consumer price index (CPI) measures the changing price of a fixed basket of goods and services purchased by New Zealand households. The selection and relative importance of the goods and services in the CPI basket represents the overall expenditure pattern of New Zealand households.

The aim of the CPI is to measure price changes of the same sample of products at each outlet over time. When there is a change in the size or quality of any of the goods or services in the basket, an adjustment is made to ensure that the price change shown in the CPI is not affected by the change in size or quality.

The CPI represents $88.9 billion spent on goods and services by New Zealand households, at June 2011 quarter prices. This is based on information from the 2009/10 Household Economic Survey and other sources. The CPI has an index reference period of the June 2006 quarter equal to 1000.

A price index measures the change in price between time periods for a given set of goods and services. It summarizes a set of prices for a variety of goods and services collected from a number of outlets. The consumer price index is the most widely followed indicator of inflation. An investor who understands how inflation influences the markets will benefit over those investors that do not understand the impact. Inflation is an increase in the overall prices of goods and services. The relationship between inflation and interest rates is the key to understanding how indicators such as the CPI influence the markets- and your investments. Inflation (along with various risks) basically explains how interest rates are set on everything from your mortgage and auto loans to Treasury bills, notes and bonds. As the rate of inflation changes and as expectations on inflation change, the markets adjust interest rates. The effect ripples across stocks, bonds, commodities, and your portfolio, often in a dramatic fashion. By tracking inflation, whether high or low, rising or falling, investors can anticipate how different types of investments will perform. Over the long run, the bond market will rally (fall) when increases in the CPI are small (large). The equity market rallies with the bond market because low inflation promises low interest rates and is good for profits.

The CPI is used to help set monetary policy and for monitoring economic performance. It is used by the government to adjust New Zealand Superannuation and unemployment benefit payments once a year, to help ensure that these payments maintain their purchasing power. Employers and employees use the CPI in wage negotiations.