A surprising fall in New Zealand consumer prices has allowed the central bank to hold interest rates at a record low and prompted a drop in the currency, according to Bloomberg.The interest rates have been kept steady to allow the bank leeway as global risk threatens to derail a limp recovery in the domestic economy. Reuters analysts had polled a 0.4 per cent increase in the fourth quarter, in line with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ) forecasts, but the country actually saw a 0.3 per cent decline from the third quarter, contrary to any forecasters' predictions.Foreign exchange trading was weakened with the New Zealand dollar trading at 80.23 against the US dollar. This compared to 80.70 before the report was released. This comes after the currency reached 80.82 on Wednesday, the highest since November 1st.Dealing manager Chris Hunter, from the Western Union Business Solutions corporate, commented in the Wall Street Journal: "The CPI data obviously disappointed pushing expectations for the RBNZ's next move to hike rate further out to the next quarter of this year and potentially to early next year."For more information on foreign exchange treasury services and risk management, visit our Corporate FX site