Higher petrol prices and more expensive fruit and vegetables are expected to have pushed quarterly inflation to around 1% in the three months to September.
The Consumer Price Index, a key measure of the cost of living, is published on Wednesday.
A Reuters poll of eight economists shows the median forecast for quarterly inflation is 0.9% and 1.3% for annual inflation.
ASB senior economist Jane Turner is predicting September quarter inflation at 1% and inflation at 1.4%.
"That would be the first time in over a year that inflation has been above 1% and over the Reserve Bank's lower target."
A seasonal increase in fruit and vegetable prices and a rise in petrol prices have contributed to quarterly inflation growth, while construction costs are having an impact on annual inflation.
Council rates are increasing but by less than previous years, while the high New Zealand dollar continues to weigh on inflation. "The New Zealand dollar looks like it is stabilising so we will see the deflationary impact of that start to wane and eventually when the New Zealand dollar does start to ease we could see a pick-up in prices."
"The Reserve Bank would have a little bit of leeway to tolerate a little bit stronger inflation in the near term given the New Zealand dollar remains quite elevated but we still see the Reserve Bank on track to lift the OCR from March next year."