0337 GMT - New Zealand's central bank will revisit its inflation forecasts in its April meeting to reflect the impact of the Middle East conflict, chief economist Paul Conway says in a speech. "Conflict in the Middle East has added yet another layer of disruption--pushing up global energy and shipping costs--with potential macroeconomic impacts here at home," he says. New Zealand's inflation stood at 3.1% in 2025, above the central bank's target range of 1%-3% and up from 2.2% in 2024. The economist calls for structural reforms, noting "monetary policy can anchor inflation but cannot fix affordability alone--productivity is key." RBNZ's next policy meeting will take place on April 8. (jihye.lee@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 24, 2026 23:37 ET (03:37 GMT)
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