RBA cash rate meetings to stretch over two days

22 November

Reserve Bank board members will meet over two days and have more time to mull over key economic material as part of a shake-up to the way interest rate meetings are run. Training and support for leaders to become more open and inclusive – aimed at...[Read More]

Reserve Bank spells out case for November hike

22 November

The minutes from the Reserve Bank’s November meeting have been released. KEY POINTS FROM NOVEMBER MINUTES * The Reserve Bank board considered both a 25 basis point increase and another month on hold at the November meeting. The case to lift the...[Read More]

Consumers, businesses still wary about the future

15 November

Another interest rate hike has flattened consumer mood, with the business community also cautious about what’s to come. The Westpac and Melbourne Institute monthly consumer sentiment survey has picked up a sharp fall in responses following the...[Read More]

Inflation ‘proving more persistent than expected’: RBA

8 November

The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted interest rates for the 13th time in the present tightening cycle, bringing the official cash rate to 4.35 per cent. KEY POINTS FROM THE RBA’S NOVEMBER CASH RATE STATEMENT * Inflation has passed its peak but...[Read More]

RBA warns of looming financial stability risks

1 November

Geopolitical challenges, climate change and cyber-attacks are emerging risks that threaten Australia’s future financial stability. Reserve Bank assistant governor Brad Jones says the threats to global and domestic financial stability in the next...[Read More]

Heated inflation figures put rate hike firmly in play

25 October

The latest inflation data has come in hotter than expected and may stir the Reserve Bank into a Melbourne Cup Day rate hike. Consumer prices as tracked by the Australian Bureau of Statistics rose 1.2 per cent over the three months to September, up...[Read More]

Rates to lift if inflation outlook in jeopardy: RBA

25 October

The Reserve Bank of Australia may need to hike interest rates again if its plan to bring down inflation is blown off course, the central bank’s governor says, while highlighting the tight financial squeeze on highly indebted borrowers. In her...[Read More]

‘Shock, after shock’ poses inflation risk: RBA boss

25 October

The head of the Reserve Bank of Australia is alert to the conflict in the Middle East adding to other economic shocks already pushing up the cost of living. In her first public appearance as governor of Australia’s central bank, Michele Bullock...[Read More]

Borrowers cutting back with more pain to come: RBA

11 October

Recent interest rate hikes are expected to slash household spending by between 0.4 and 0.8 per cent, the Reserve Bank estimates. The four percentage points of monetary policy tightening since May last year is starting to slow growth in demand and...[Read More]

New bank chief holds rates at 4.1 per cent

4 October

The official cash rate has been held steady for the fourth month in a row but the Reserve Bank’s new chief is alert to bubbling inflation risks. The RBA board opted to leave interest rates at 4.1 per cent at the first meeting with new governor...[Read More]

Labor’s jobs plan not at odds with RBA, says treasurer

27 September

Driving the unemployment rate down to its lowest level possible is a key objective of the federal government’s new road map for Australia’s labour market. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government’s stance on full employment is not at odds...[Read More]

Inflation cooling to plan but fuel on RBA’s watchlist

20 September

The slowing pace of inflation was enough for the Reserve Bank to keep rates on hold at the last meeting, but the board was alert to surging petrol prices and other risks. The minutes from the September meetings revealed a level of comfort with the...[Read More]