New Zealand Current Account

Info

History

Chart

Impact:

Medium

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Latest Release:

Date:

Surprise:

NZ$-0.12B

NZD

Actual:

NZ$-2.32B

Forecast: NZ$-2.2B

Previous/Revision:

NZ$-7.04B

Period: Q1

Next Release:

Date:

Forecast: NZ$-3.9B

Period: Q2

What Does It Measure?

The New Zealand Current Account measures the country's balance of payments concerning transactions with the rest of the world, specifically focusing on the net flow of goods, services, income, and current transfers. It assesses the health of New Zealand's economy in terms of its international trade position, capital requirements, and foreign investment inflows and outflows.

Frequency

This report is released quarterly, typically providing both preliminary estimates and final figures; the preliminary data is generally published approximately six weeks after the end of the quarter.

Why Do Traders Care?

Traders monitor the Current Account as it can indicate the overall economic performance and competitiveness of New Zealand, influencing currency valuation and investment decisions in financial markets. A surplus may lead to an appreciation of the New Zealand dollar, while a deficit could pressure the currency downwards, affecting trader sentiment and asset pricing.

What Is It Derived From?

The Current Account balance is derived from data on exports and imports of goods and services, net earnings on investments, and current transfers, calculated using international transaction records and household and corporate financial statistics. The estimates are typically based on surveys of businesses, government agencies, and financial institutions involved in international trade and finance.

Description

The Current Account indicates New Zealand's economic standing in relation to the global market, with a positive balance suggesting strong international demand for goods and services, while a negative balance may signal economic weaknesses or increased borrowing from abroad. The assessment of this indicator is essential for economic planning, as it impacts currency stability, monetary policy, and investment strategies.

Additional Notes

As a coincident economic measure, the Current Account is significant for understanding New Zealand's synchronization with global economic trends and fluctuations in trade dynamics. It is frequently compared with other related reports, such as the trade balance and GDP growth, providing context for broader economic evaluation in both domestic and international settings.

Bullish or Bearish for Currency and Stocks

Higher than expected: Bullish for NZD, Bearish for Stocks. Lower than expected: Bearish for NZD, Bullish for Stocks. Dovish tone: Signaling lower interest rates or economic support is usually good for the NZD but bad for Stocks due to cheaper borrowing costs.

Legend

High Potential Impact
This event has a strong potential to move markets significantly. If the 'Actual' value differs enough from the forecast or if the 'Previous' value is significantly revised, it signals new information that markets may rapidly adjust to.

Medium Potential Impact
This event may cause moderate market movement, especially if the 'Actual' deviates from the forecast or there's a notable revision to the 'Previous' value.

Low Potential Impact
This event is unlikely to affect market pricing unless there's an unexpected surprise or a major revision to prior data.

Surprise - Currency May Strengthen
Actual deviated from Forecast on a medium or high impact event and historically could strengthen the currency.

Surprise - Currency May Weaken
Actual deviated from Forcast on a medium or high impact event and historically could weaken the currency.

Big Surprise - Currency More Likely To Strengthen
'Actual' deviated from 'Forecast' more than 75% of historical deviations on a medium or high impact event and may likely strengthen the currency.

Big Surprise - Currency More Likely To Weaken
'Actual' deviated from 'Forecast' more than 75% of historical deviations on a medium or high impact event and may likely weaken the currency

Green Number	Better than forecast for the currency (or previous revise better)
Red Number	Worse than forecast for the currency (or previous revise better)
Hawkish	Supports higher interest rates to fight inflation, strengthening the currency but weighing on stocks.
Dovish	Favors lower rates to boost growth, weakening the currency but lifting stocks.

Date	Actual	Forecast	Previous	Surprise
Jun 17, 2025	NZ$-2.32B	NZ$-2.2B	NZ$-7.04B	NZ$-0.12B
Mar 18, 2025	NZ$-7.037B	NZ$-6.65B	NZ$-10.839B	NZ$-0.387B
Dec 17, 2024	NZ$-10.58B	NZ$-10.5B	NZ$-4.83B	NZ$-0.08B
Sep 17, 2024	NZ$-4.83B	NZ$-4B	NZ$-4.36B	NZ$-0.83B
Jun 18, 2024	NZ$-4.36B	NZ$-4.55B	NZ$-7.84B	NZ$0.19B
Mar 19, 2024	NZ$-7.837B	NZ$-7.8B	NZ$-11.465B	NZ$-0.037B
Dec 12, 2023	NZ$-11.465B	NZ$-10.848B	NZ$-4.208B	NZ$-0.617B
Sep 19, 2023	NZ$-4.208B	NZ$-4.8B	NZ$-4.662B	NZ$0.592B
Jun 13, 2023	NZ$-5.215B	NZ$-6.83B	NZ$-10.065B	NZ$1.615B
Mar 14, 2023	NZ$-9.458B	NZ$-7.64B	NZ$-11.4B	NZ$-1.818B
Dec 13, 2022	NZ$-10.2B	NZ$-10B	NZ$-5.423B	NZ$-0.2B
Sep 13, 2022	NZ$-5.224B	NZ$-4.7B	NZ$-6.502B	NZ$-0.524B
Jun 14, 2022	NZ$-6.143B	NZ$-5.5B	NZ$-7.34B	NZ$-0.643B
Mar 15, 2022	NZ$-7.26B	NZ$-6.213B	NZ$-8.3B	NZ$-1.047B
Dec 14, 2021	NZ$-8.3B	NZ$-7.913B	NZ$-1.396B	NZ$-0.387B
Sep 14, 2021	NZ$-1.396B	NZ$1.1B	NZ$-3.189B	NZ$-2.496B
Jun 15, 2021	NZ$-2.895B	NZ$-2.23B	NZ$-2.59B	NZ$-0.665B
Mar 16, 2021	NZ$-2.695B	NZ$-2.88B	NZ$-3.521B	NZ$0.185B
Dec 15, 2020	NZ$-3.52B	NZ$-3.652B	NZ$1.91B	NZ$0.132B
Sep 15, 2020	NZ$1.828B	NZ$0.595B	NZ$1.9B	NZ$1.233B
Jun 16, 2020	NZ$1.56B	NZ$1.482B	NZ$-2.77B	NZ$0.078B
Mar 17, 2020	NZ$-2.657B	NZ$-2.956B	NZ$-6.26B	NZ$0.299B
Dec 17, 2019	NZ$-6.351B	NZ$-6.336B	NZ$-1.03B	NZ$-0.015B
Sep 17, 2019	NZ$-1.11B	NZ$-1.117B	NZ$0.68B	NZ$0.007B
Jun 18, 2019	NZ$0.68B	NZ$0.526B	NZ$-3.26B	NZ$0.154B
Mar 19, 2019	NZ$-3.26B	NZ$-3.555B	NZ$-6.18B	NZ$0.295B
Dec 18, 2018	NZ$-6.15B	NZ$-5.85B	NZ$-1.62B	NZ$-0.3B
Sep 18, 2018	NZ$-1.62B	NZ$-1.05B	NZ$0.09B	NZ$-0.57B
Jun 19, 2018	NZ$0.18B	NZ$0.05B	NZ$-2.77B	NZ$0.13B
Mar 13, 2018	NZ$-2.77B	NZ$-2.4B	NZ$-4.68B	NZ$-0.37B
Dec 19, 2017	NZ$-4.68B	NZ$-4.29B	NZ$-0.62B	NZ$-0.39B
Sep 19, 2017	NZ$-0.62B	NZ$-0.88B	NZ$0.24B	NZ$0.26B
Jun 13, 2017	NZ$0.24B	NZ$0.922B	NZ$-2.4B	NZ$-0.682B
Mar 14, 2017	NZ$-2.34B	NZ$-2.543B	NZ$-5.03B	NZ$0.203B
Dec 21, 2016	NZ$-4.89B	NZ$-5.015B	NZ$-0.94B	NZ$0.125B
Sep 13, 2016	NZ$-0.94B	N$-0.411B	NZ$1.18B
Jun 14, 2016	NZ$1.31B	NZ$1.05B	NZ$-2.89B	NZ$0.26B
Mar 15, 2016	NZ$-2.61B	N$-2.8B	N$-4.74B
Dec 15, 2015	NZ$-4.75B	NZ$-4.901B	NZ$-1.22B	NZ$0.151B
Sep 15, 2015	NZ$-1.22B	N$-1500M	N$821M
Jun 16, 2015	NZ$660M	NZ$-150M	NZ$-3170M	NZ$810M