New Zealand’s government on Tuesday forecasts a larger budget deficit, and higher debt but better than expected economic conditions in the year ahead, as it opened its books and updated forecasts heading into the October election.
Forecasts a budget deficit of NZ$11.38 billion for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.
The government now expects the return to a budget surplus by 2026/27.
Forecasts economic growth in Q2 2023, Q3 2023 and Q4 2023.
Sees annual average GDP growth of 1.3% in 2023-24.
Forecasts the jobless rate at 4.8% in 2023/24 vs. earlier at 5.0%.
The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) move little after the updated forecasts. In fact, the NZD/USD pair remains on the defensive in the wake of a modest US Dollar (USD) uptick, albeit manages to hold above the 0.5900 round figure.