Don't expect any major change to interest rates before Christmas.

The Reserve Bank is tipped to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 5.5% at its next review at 2pm today.

Economists and commentators remain divided on whether there will be further hikes in the current cycle.

NZIER's Christina Leung told Tim Dower that, for now, previous hikes appear to be having the desired effect.

However, she says there is still work to be done yet to ease inflation.

LISTEN ABOVE

Don't expect any major change to interest rates before Christmas. 
The Reserve Bank is tipped to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 5.5% at its next review at 2pm today. 
Economists and commentators remain divided on whether there will be further hikes in the current cycle. 
NZIER's Christina Leung told Tim Dower that, for now, previous hikes appear to be having the desired effect. 
However, she says there is still work to be done yet to ease inflation. 
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Christina Leung: NZIER Principal Economist expects the OCR to hold steady at 5.5%

New Zealand's economy is heading into the current Middle East crisis noticeably weaker than expected.

GDP's risen just 0.2 percent in the December quarter - well below many forecasts.

It's also risen just 0.2 percent across the whole of last year, after growth in the September quarter was revised down.

ANZ Senior Economist Matt Gault tells Ryan how the Reserve Bank will react to this news. 

New Zealand's economy is heading into the current Middle East crisis noticeably weaker than expected.
GDP's risen just 0.2 percent in the December quarter - well below many forecasts.
It's also risen just 0.2 percent across the whole of last year, after growth in the September quarter was revised down.
ANZ Senior Economist Matt Gault tells Ryan how the Reserve Bank will react to this news.&nbsp;

Matt Gault: ANZ Senior Economist on the Q4 GDP result

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4a53d8db-72c0-4f12-9788-b412011efad5/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 20th of March 2025, the government's acknowledged a "big shift" in the government's messaging around the war in the Middle East, Waitomo Group CEO Simon Parham, tells Ryan what oil company's are doing to assist with the oil shock. 

A New study highlights just how unhealthy our eating has gotten, Nutritionist Nikki Hart shares her thoughts on why we're importing so much processed foods. 

ANZ Senior Economist Matt Gault tells Ryan what the disappointing GDP result means for the state of our economy. 

Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on prices of gas and oil rising sharply due to strikes on Iran's South Pars field and the King's opened the world's longest coastal footpath which stretches around the entire coast of England. 

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

LISTEN ABOVE  

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 20th of March 2025, the government's acknowledged a "big shift" in the government's messaging around the war in the Middle East, Waitomo Group CEO Simon Parham, tells Ryan what oil company's are doing to assist with the oil shock.&nbsp;
A New study highlights just how unhealthy our eating has gotten, Nutritionist Nikki Hart shares her thoughts on why we're importing so much processed foods.&nbsp;
ANZ Senior Economist Matt Gault tells Ryan what the disappointing GDP result means for the state of our economy.&nbsp;
Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on prices of gas and oil rising sharply due to strikes on Iran's South Pars field and the King's opened the world's longest coastal footpath which stretches around the entire coast of England.&nbsp;
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 20 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c075d406-358e-4299-9c3e-b412011a9503/transcript

Is Joe Kent this week’s voice of reason?

Is he the guy speaking truth in the fog of war?

He spoke to Tucker Carlson, and the podcast is worth a listen. 

He’s a MAGA guy. He was a Trump guy. But this week he turned his back in his President. 

He quit his job as America’s top counter-terrorism official.

He was a soldier. He served in Iraq. His wife was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria.

He’s no snowflake. He just doesn’t want the US getting bogged down in wars it can’t win. 

It’s one thing to bomb the hell out of a country. But when the dust settles, the troops go home, the victory banners are unfurled, then what?

In Iraq, a power vacuum and ISIS.

So, in calling this out, in quitting, is Joe Kent a hero or a traitor? 

The FBI’s now investigating him, but that’s not unusual. Look at Jerome Powell (Fed Chair) John Bolton… right down to Jimmy Kimmel… who was investigated by the US TV regulator after criticising Trump.

Only time will tell whether there was a pressing need for starting this war we’re all paying for.

But history tells us it won’t end just because a US President says so.

Is Joe Kent this week’s voice of reason?
Is he the guy speaking truth in the fog of war?
He spoke to Tucker Carlson, and the podcast is worth a listen.&nbsp;
He’s a MAGA guy. He was a Trump guy. But this week he turned his back in his President.&nbsp;
He quit his job as America’s top counter-terrorism official.
He was a soldier. He served in Iraq. His wife was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria.
He’s no snowflake. He just doesn’t want the US getting bogged down in wars it can’t win.&nbsp;
It’s one thing to bomb the hell out of a country. But when the dust settles, the troops go home, the victory banners are unfurled, then what?
In Iraq, a power vacuum and ISIS.
So, in calling this out, in quitting, is Joe Kent a hero or a traitor?&nbsp;
The FBI’s now investigating him, but that’s not unusual. Look at Jerome Powell (Fed Chair) John Bolton… right down to Jimmy Kimmel… who was investigated by the US TV regulator after criticising Trump.
Only time will tell whether there was a pressing need for starting this war we’re all paying for.
But history tells us it won’t end just because a US President says so.

Ryan Bridge: Is Joe Kent this week’s voice of reason?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b7f3f801-cf44-43e6-88b2-b412011c2398/transcript

Christina Leung: NZIER Principal Economist expects the OCR to hold steady at 5.5%

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