RBNZ: new PTA an “evolution”
McDermott said the central bank's new Policy Targets Agreement (PTA) would “reinforce the flexibility” of the central bank’s long-term approach.
Last month Finance Minister Grant Robertson and new Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr signed an agreement to require monetary policy to be be conducted so it contributes to supporting maximum levels of employment. RBNZ still has to keep annual CPI inflation between 1 and 3 percent over the medium-term, with a focus on keeping it close to 2 percent.
The new PTA triggered market fears of a radical change in direction for the central bank, but those concerns were quelled by McDermott today. He said the new PTA was a continuation of gradual policy change: “The Reserve Bank has always had regard to developments in the labour market, and this has been encouraged by our increasingly flexible approach.
“We regularly assess the available labour market data and are committed to discussing labour market developments. So my current sense is that, to a large extent, the changes help reinforce the flexibility in our approach,” he added.
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