New Zealand Dollar Edges Lower After Soft Retail Sales – Action Forex
The New Zealand dollar, having embarked on a winning streak, finds itself at a crossroads. Its seven-day rally, which saw it notch a more than 2% rise against the US dollar, appears to be in jeopardy. Currently, in the European trading session, the NZD/USD pair is trading at 0.6185, experiencing a slight decline of 0.16%.
New Zealand Retail Sales Take a Hit
In the latest financial quarter, New Zealand’s retail sales figures painted a gloomy picture, continuing a troubling trend. Retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 dipped by 1.9% quarter-on-quarter, marking the eighth consecutive quarter where retail spending has receded. This fall was significantly sharper than the 0.8% contraction witnessed in the third quarter and fell well below the market’s expectation of a 0.4% decline.
The adverse effects of this downturn were widespread, with 14 out of 15 retail industries experiencing a decrease in retail activity. On an annual basis, retail sales plummeted by 4.1%, a descent from the 3.4% decline noted in the previous quarter, and performing worse than the anticipated 3.6% decrease. This has been the pattern for five consecutive quarters, underscoring a persistent weakness in consumer spending.
These unsettling figures suggest that New Zealand’s consumer spending is faltering, potentially signaling that the country’s economy could be tilting into a recessionary phase. With GDP growth showing a contraction of 0.3% in the third quarter, a continuation of negative growth in the fourth quarter would fulfill the criteria for a technical recession.
Impact on Monetary Policy
The release of the retail sales data is particularly noteworthy as it represents the last significant economic report before the next meeting of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) on February 28th. Ahead of this meeting, Governor Orr has expressed openness to further rate hikes, countering market sentiments that anticipate a rate cut by mid-2024. However, given the stark retail sales figures, the likelihood of a rate increase seems diminished.
Since April 2023, the RBNZ has kept the cash rate steady at 5.50%. In light of the recent retail sales report, it would come as a significant surprise if the bank opted to adjust rates at the upcoming meeting. The weak consumer spending data adds a layer of complexity to the RBNZ’s decision-making process, potentially influencing its approach to managing monetary policy amidst economic headwinds.
In conclusion, the New Zealand dollar faces downward pressure as the latest retail sales figures highlight ongoing challenges within the economy. As the RBNZ prepares for its upcoming decision, the state of consumer spending will undoubtedly weigh heavily on discussions regarding future monetary policy directions.
