OCR reviewed less often

The Reserve Bank has released its schedule for OCR decisions in 2016 and 2017.

Instead of reviewing eight times a year, it has signalled it will review it just seven.

The OCR is a major factor in the interest rates  banks offer their customers, particularly short-term rates.

A full monetary policy statement will be released on the second Thursday in February, May, August and November, including a review of the OCR.

The bank will also release three OCR decisions, with no accompanying forecasts, on the fourth Thursday of March, June, and September.

Bank spokesman Mike Hannah said: “The new schedule ensures that the Bank will capture the latest key economic data available for its policy decisions,” he said. “It also gives the financial markets clarity over a longer timeframe to enable more efficient risk management and pricing of financial instruments.”