OCR expected to remain unchanged

Westpac Bank is expecting the Official Cash Rate to remain unchanged when the Reserve Bank makes its next announcement on Thursday.

Westpac is predicting the central bank will start gradually raising the rate from early next year.

Westpac's economists say a fall in unemployment since the last announcement in October is positive.

However, it is not thought to be enough to sway the Reserve Bank into swift rate increases.

- Newstalk ZB