New Zealand’s producer prices accelerated sharply in the second quarter of 2026, with the PPI Output indicator rising 1.6% quarter-over-quarter, double the 0.8% increase recorded in the first quarter of 2026. The latest data, updated on 18 August 2026, highlight a notable pickup in cost pressures at the producer level.
The comparison is made on a quarter-over-quarter basis, with the current figure reflecting the change in output prices in the second quarter relative to the first quarter of 2026. By contrast, the previous reading of 0.8% showed how prices evolved in the first quarter compared with the final quarter of the prior period. The step-up from 0.8% to 1.6% suggests that producer price inflation is gaining momentum as the year progresses.
