New Zealand Inflation Slows More Than Expected in 3Q on Lower Fuel Prices

07:22 PM EDT, 10/21/2026 (MT Newswires) -- New Zealand's annual inflation slowed more than expected in the third quarter as fuel prices retreated, multiple news sites reported Wednesday, citing Statistics New Zealand data. The Consumers Price Index rose 3.7% from a year earlier, down from 4.1% in the second quarter and below the 3.8% forecast by economists, according to the data. Prices rose 0.7% from the previous quarter, compared with the 0.8% estimate, the reports said. The slowdown offers the government brief relief ahead of the Nov. 7 election, though some economists project the CPI will rise above 4.5% in the fourth quarter on higher fuel costs tied to Middle East tensions, Bloomberg reported.