Crashing dairy price causes stir in Parliament

Crashing dairy price causes stir in Parliament

The crashing dairy price has caused real concern on the main street of Feilding, and also caused a real debate in Parliament.

Here's the issue - that banks are not passing on the full benefit of last week's Reserve Bank cut to the Official Cash Rate (OCR) - which was aimed at easing the pain for farmers.

It was cut to 2.25 percent, a drop of 0.25 percent.

With floating home mortgage rates, ASB has dropped 0.2 percent.

ANZ and Westpac are down 0.1 percent, and BNZ has passed on no change at all.

With rural lending rates there has also been no change passed on.

ASB announced late today it will cut its rural rates tomorrow.

Labour leader Andrew Little talked tough about the banks and threatens a law change to force banks to pass on OCR cuts.

A number of small businesses are clearly worried.  A survey of over 1000 firms by accounting software developer Mind Your Own Business shows 21 percent say "revenue negatively affected by dairy price" and 25 percent say "consumer confidence affected".

Another crucial indicator of the milk price will come overnight tonight - the global dairy trade auction - important news farmers, small businesses, politicians and all kiwis will wake to tomorrow.

Newshub.