Key graphs - exchange rate

Inflation	Real GDP	Mortgage rates	House prices/values	Household debt
Current account	90-day rates	Exchange rate	Employment	Download data

Click for graph of real exchange rate since 1970

The US Dollar cross rate should be interpreted as one New Zealand dollar buying x US dollars. The TWI (Trade-weighted index) is the nominal NZ dollar exchange rate weighted 50/50 by New Zealand's trade with its major trading partners and the nominal GDPs (in US dollars) of those countries. The graph shows monthly averages. Over the year 2000 the New Zealand dollar dropped to record lows, dropping below 40 cents per NZ dollar in October 2000. However, after 2002, the currency strengthened considerably reflecting a strong domestic economy, rising export commodity prices and a softening US dollar. In the last few years New Zealand's comparatively high interest rates have been a factor supporting the NZ dollar, along with relatively high commodity prices. The New Zealand dollar has fallen over 2006, with overseas interest rates moving higher and signs that economic activity is cooling.

The graph to the right shows the behaviour of the real exchange rate over a 35 year period in relation to its long-run average.
Data for both graphs is available in Excel by selecting the download data link.

Last updated 30 July 2010