That's likely to add to the case that the Reserve Bank is done cutting interest rates and may begin hiking the official cash rate, now at a record low 1.75 per cent, toward the end of 2017.
The current account deficit probably widened to 3 per cent of gross domestic product from 2.9 per cent, based on the consensus forecast of economists.
"GDP data later this morning could inject some life into the currency in illiquid market conditions," said Jason Wong, currency strategist at Bank of New Zealand, in a note. "It would only be temporary though, as it's hard to see data nearly three months dated changing the outlook much."
The Treasury has projected economic growth to average 3 per cent over the next five years, helping bolster the Crown's tax take and budget surpluses. Buoyant retailing probably lifted services sector growth while the construction industry is benefitting from a building boom in the face of record migration and a housing shortage in Auckland.
The local currency fell to 95.21 Australian cents from 95.55 cents late yesterday. It declined to 4.7872 yuan from 4.8177 yuan and dropped to 81.08 yen from 81.58 yen.
The kiwi fell to 66.15 euro cents from 66.59 cents and declined to 55.87 British pence from 56 pence.
