| Perception of current inflation | Expected inflation 1-year | Expected inflation 5-years | Net percent expecting higher house prices | Expected inflation house prices 1-year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | (Median) | (Mean) | (Median) | (Mean) | (Median) | (Mean) | (%) | (Median) | (Mean) |
| Previous years: | |||||||||
| Dec 2019 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 64.7 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Dec 2020 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 74.8 | 5.0 | 5.1 |
| Quarterly: | |||||||||
| Mar 2021 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 81.4 | 6.0 | 6.4 |
| Jun 2021 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 62.4 | 4.0 | 4.7 |
| Sep 2021 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 5.1 | 72.9 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| Dec 2021 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.6 | 70.5 | 5.0 | 5.3 |
The data until September 2008 in this table is sourced from ACNielsen's Marketscope telephone omnibus survey conducted in the second month of the reference quarter.
From December 2008 quarter data is sourced from UMR Research's nation-wide telephone omnibus survey.
From September 2018 quarter data is sourced from UMR Research’s nation-wide online omnibus survey.
The data includes Median and Mean current inflation, Net percent expecting higher inflation, Median and Mean expected inflation in 12 months time, Median and Mean expected inflation in 5 years time, Net percent expecting higher house prices, and Median and Mean expected house price increases in 12 months time.
Quarterly
Data is released around the end of the second month of the reference quarter.
The Statistics Release Calendar provides a long-term plan of scheduled releases. It is updated and released on the first working day of the month.
View the Statistics Release Calendar.
On behalf of the Bank, the survey company asks householders three questions relating to their inflation perceptions/expectations.
Data is not revised.
Series breaks occur at the December 2008 and September 2018 quarters, due to changes in the sample. The UMR Research online sample is 1000, the UMR Research telephone sample is 750, and the ACNielsen sample is 1000. The UMR surveys excludes the 15-17 age group, which is included in ACNielsen's survey.
Interviews are carried out by online survey, with one person per household.
Prior to the September 2018 quarter, interviews were carried out by telephone, with one person per household. Telephone numbers were randomly generated within known Telecom ranges.
Individual respondent answers are weighted so as to replicate the demographic characteristics of a fully national sample.
The Reserve Bank receives a confidential report based on the aggregated responses. Key survey results are published on the RBNZ website.
The Reserve Bank contracts a survey company to ask respondents questions relating to their expectations of inflation and house prices.
The data from 1995 through to September 2008 is sourced from ACNielsen's Marketscope telephone survey of 1000 people aged 15 years and over. Between December 2008- July 2018 the survey is sourced from UMR Research’s nationwide omnibus telephone survey of 750 people aged 18 years and over. From July 2018 the survey is sourced from UMR Research’s nationwide omnibus online survey of 1000 people aged 18 years and over.
We are satisfied that the effect of the sample differences on the survey results is minor, but the following two factors should be kept in mind when interpreting movements in figures between the December 2008/March 2009 results and previous surveys. (1) The smaller sample implies a slightly higher margin of error in the survey results (±3.6% at the 95% confidence level). (2) Although a relatively small subgroup, the 15-17 age group has tended to have higher expectations than the full sample mean. However, our tests have shown the exclusion of this group has negligible impact on the figures.
Respondents are first asked:
"What is your understanding of the term inflation?"
If respondents are able to provide an answer, they are then asked:
"Based on your own opinions and what you've seen and heard, what do you think the inflation figure is now? "
"In 12 months time, do you expect the inflation figure to be higher,
lower or the same?"
(NB. Net per cent expecting higher inflation
refers to the percentage expecting higher inflation, minus the percentage
expecting lower inflation.)
"What do you think the actual figure will be in 12 months time?"
"What do you think the actual figure will be in five years time?"
"In one year's time do you think house prices overall will have increased, decreased or stayed the same compared to now?"
"By what percentage do you think they will have increased or decreased?"
| 0 | Zero or value rounded to zero |
| - | Not applicable |
| .. | Not available |
| bold | Revised/new |
| italics | Provisional |
| light red background | Historical |