In every operations room I have stood in, there comes a moment when a plan meets reality and someone asks the hard question: what happens if this does not work? An officer who cannot answer is relying on hope. Read more
On July 5, the Prime Minister announced plans for free trade agreements with seven more countries, on top of the deal with India he signed in April. The next day, a Chinese submarine fired a missile from the South China Sea into the Pacific. Read more
New Zealand's two main warships will reach the end of their working lives within about a decade, and Cabinet must decide by 2027 what should replace them. The choice will shape the country's ability to help keep its trade routes open for a generation. Read more
When France celebrates its national holiday today, it will look much the same as always. There will be the usual aircraft flyover and the cavalry parading past the president. Read more
| GDP Quarterly Change: | -0.03% |
|---|---|
| GDP Annual Change: | 1.67% |
| Inflation: | 3.12% |
| Optimal OCR: | 2.06% |
| Optimal OCR Gap: | -0.19% |
| Forecasted OCR Change: | 0.25% |