Economists expect the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates further late this month, despite lower than expected inflation figures.

New CPI figures show prices rose 0.3 per cent for the June 2010 quarter, meaning annual inflation is running at 1.8 per cent.

The New Zealand dollar may be little changed over the next five days after a 3.2pc surge last week took it above 71 US cents for the first time in a fortnight.

Auckland house sales slumped 16pc in June, with the average sale price falling 3.6pc from a year ago, says real estate firm Barfoot & Thompson.

In a new statement of intent, the Reserve Bank says it is looking at new tools to support the traditional Official Cash Rate.

Phil Goff says the Labour Party would require the Reserve Bank to pursue broader objectives.

New Zealanders should do more to address economic imbalances, especially external debt, says the Reserve Bank.

Alan Bollard says a pickup in sales of 'uridashi' bonds to Japanese investors would be useful.

The average floating mortgage is expected to rise by $10 a week after the Reserve Bank lifted the OCR for the first time since 2007.

For borrowers the Reserve Bank's statement makes dispiriting reading...

Opinion is divided on whether inflationary pressures and the global crisis will be enough for Alan Bollard to begin lifting rates next week.

Inflation is expected to spike higher than many were predicting, as a result of yesterday's Budget tax changes.

As an external debtor country, NZ could be vulnerable to any renewed deterioration in global debt markets, the Reserve Bank Governor says.