New Zealand: New Zealand's unemployment rate increased to 5.6% in the second quarter of 2026, the highest level since late 2015, according to Statistics New Zealand. The figure rose from a revised 5.4% in the previous quarter and exceeded the market forecast of 5.4%. The increase was driven by a rise in the number of people seeking employment, which outpaced growth in employment. The data indicates continued labour market slack, which could influence the outlook for interest rates. The figures c