New Zealand’s producer input prices accelerated sharply in the second quarter of 2026, with the Input Producer Price Index (PPI) rising 2.9% quarter-on-quarter, up from a 1.4% increase in the first quarter of 2026. The latest data, updated on 18 August 2026, indicate a notable pickup in cost pressures at the early stages of the production chain.
On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the current 2.9% rise compares with the previous quarter’s 1.4% gain, meaning input costs are growing at more than double the earlier pace. According to the comparison methodology, the current figure reflects the change in the second quarter relative to the first quarter of 2026, while the earlier 1.4% measure captured the change in the first quarter versus the preceding quarter.
The stronger increase in input PPI suggests that New Zealand producers are facing a steeper climb in production costs in Q2 2026 than earlier in the year, a development that could filter through to output prices and broader inflation in subsequent periods if sustained.
