RBA
Economy yet to shake malaise as growth misses forecasts
5 December
Australia’s economy is still growing – but only just – though economists are unconvinced the weaker-than-expected data will bring forward keenly-anticipated interest rate cuts. Full-year growth fell to 0.8 per cent in September, down from one...[Read More]
Hint of consumer recovery to keep RBA focused on prices
5 December
Savvy shoppers pouncing on early Black Friday sales have helped deliver higher-than-expected retail sales in October. Income tax cuts, lower petrol and energy prices and evaporating chances of more rate hikes might be further boosting spending in...[Read More]
Christmas rate cut hopes slayed as inflation holds firm
28 November
Australia’s inflation rate may have undershot expectations to hold at the bottom of the central bank’s target band but borrowers should not expect interest rate cuts just yet. The annual headline inflation rate has held at 2.1 per cent in...[Read More]
Annual inflation rate hangs on at 2.1 per cent
28 November
Australia’s annual headline inflation rate has held at 2.1 per cent in October for a second month, coming in a little below expectations. Despite clocking a second month at the bottom of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s two-three per cent target...[Read More]
‘Guarded references’: Door opening to rate cuts
21 November
Consumer spending habits, productivity and the jobs market are all sources of uncertainty in the Reserve Bank of Australia’s assessment of inflation and interest rates Underlying inflation remains “too high”, the central bank board once again...[Read More]
Economists look to RBA minutes for clue on future rates
20 November
Attention will turn to the Reserve Bank of Australia with the minutes from its last board meeting due as well as speeches by senior officials. The central bank’s opinion of Thursday’s job figures will be of particular interest, with the October...[Read More]
Consumer confidence rebound wobbles following Trump win
14 November
A second Donald Trump presidency has dented an otherwise confident outlook for Australian consumers, buoyed by improving finances and the diminishing likelihood of interest rate hikes. Pessimists still outnumber optimists in the Westpac-Melbourne...[Read More]
February rate cut hopes hinge on jobs market softening
7 November
Hopes of a February interest rate cut are fading after the central bank warned the Australian economy is still too hot. Interest rates have been left on hold and the Reserve Bank of Australia remains steadfast in its inflation fight, even after...[Read More]
Inflation eases to 2.8 per cent in September quarter
31 October
Australia’s annual inflation rate has returned to the range targeted by the central bank, clocking in at 2.8 per cent in the September quarter. The headline annual rate was down a whole percentage point from the June quarter and landed broadly in...[Read More]
Petrol and energy relief drag headline inflation lower
31 October
Cheaper fuel and energy bill relief have helped drag headline inflation down to its lowest rate since early 2021. A 2.8 per cent rise in the September-quarter consumer price index marks a return to the Reserve Bank’s target range of two to three...[Read More]
Pandemic cash splash let inflation genie out of bottle
31 October
Unnecessary COVID-19 spending and Reserve Bank delay in lifting interest rates significantly worsened inflation, a review of Australia’s pandemic response finds. While supports like JobKeeper and HomeBuilder were desperately needed and an...[Read More]
Reserve Bank’s views on hot jobs market to be canvassed
24 October
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s second-in-command will have an opportunity to opine on a robust jobs readout as anxious borrowers await good news. A fireside chat with Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser is on the agenda at Commonwealth Bank’s Global...[Read More]
Labour shortages still ‘number one’ concern: RBA
24 October
Finding enough workers with the right skills is still holding Australian businesses back, the Reserve Bank of Australia says. The experience varies across industries and individual firms but deputy governor Andrew Hauser says most employers are...[Read More]
Hard-to-miss petrol pricing a ‘proxy’ for inflation
17 October
Motorists are paying less to fill up at the petrol pump and that hasn’t gone unnoticed, weighing on expectations for inflation and making the Reserve Bank of Australia’s job a little easier. The central bank’s chief economist, Sarah Hunter,...[Read More]
Inflation green shoots could spell earlier rates relief
17 October
Promising price signals have Commonwealth Bank economists increasingly confident the first interest rate cut will be delivered before the end of the year. The only one of the big four banks predicting rates relief before Christmas, CBA’s economic...[Read More]