Central banks balance different factors when raising rates – or not – including inflation and the labour market. But what other countries are doing also has an effect.
A swift intervention by the US Federal Reserve has kept most banks on their feet, but September/October is often the time when financial crises come to a head.
With an inflation rate peaking at just 4.4%, Japan seems to be getting something right about managing economic pressures. How does it do this, and should New Zealand revisit its own strategies?
Many Canadians are puzzled by food prices remaining high despite the Bank of Canada’s efforts to curb inflation. If interest rate policies aren’t bringing food prices down, then what will?
Although she has been with the bank four decades, the past two have been in areas remote from the setting of interest rates, meaning she won’t feel compelled to defend the mistakes of the past.
Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Australian home borrowers are experiencing much, much more interest rate pain than borrowers in New Zealand, Canada, the UK or US – for one simple reason.