Australia Holds Interest Rate At 13-Year High

RTTNews | 248 days ago
Australia Holds Interest Rate At 13-Year High

(RTTNews) - Australia central bank maintained its interest rate for the eighth straight session at a 13-year high on Tuesday as underlying inflation remains too high.

The policy board of the Reserve Bank of Australia governed by Michele Bullock decided to hold the cash rate target at 4.35 percent.

The bank had previously changed its rate in November 2023, when it was lifted by 25 basis points to the highest level since late 2011.

The interest rate paid on Exchange Settlement balances was kept unchanged at 4.25 percent.

The committee said it needs to remain vigilant to upside risks to inflation and is not ruling anything in or out.

"Policy will need to be sufficiently restrictive until the Board is confident that inflation is moving sustainably towards the target range," the bank said.

Policymakers observed that headline inflation has declined substantially and it will remain lower for a time but underlying inflation is more indicative of inflation momentum, and it remains too high.

The bank said it will be some time yet before inflation is sustainably in the target range and approaching the midpoint.

In Statement of Monetary Policy, the bank said year-ended headline inflation is forecast to rise in the September quarter of 2025 to above the target band as the rebates unwind. Underlying inflation is not expected to reach 3 percent until the June quarter of next year.

Economic growth is expected to return to around its potential growth rate by late 2025.

read more
Australia Building Permits Climb 3.2% On Month In May

Australia Building Permits Climb 3.2% On Month In May

The total number of building permits issued in Australia was up a seasonally adjusted 3.2 percent on month in May, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday - coming in at 15,212.
RTTNews | 2 days ago
Australia Central Bank Unexpectedly Maintains Status Quo

Australia Central Bank Unexpectedly Maintains Status Quo

The Reserve Bank of Australia adopted a wait-and-see approach on Tuesday, defying expectations for a quarter-point rate cut but confirmed that an easing cycle is coming. The policy board, governed by Michele Bullock, decided to hold the cash rate target at 3.85 percent. A majority of six members voted to hold the rate, while three members sought a change from 3.85 percent.
RTTNews | 3 days ago
Australia Inflation Eases In May

Australia Inflation Eases In May

Australia's consumer price inflation softened more than expected in May, giving space for the central bank to lower its interest rate. The monthly Consumer Price Index indicator rose 2.1 percent year-on-year, following the 2.4 percent increase in April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported Wednesday. A similar lower rate was last seen in October 2024.
RTTNews | 16 days ago
Australia NAB Business Conditions Ease; Confidence Improves

Australia NAB Business Conditions Ease; Confidence Improves

Australian business conditions eased in May amid ongoing profitability pressures and soft demand, while business confidence improved from the last month, survey data from NAB showed on Tuesday. A monthly survey conducted by Westpac showed that consumer confidence rose moderately in June, underpinned by interest rate cut and softening inflation.
RTTNews | 31 days ago
Australia GDP Adds 0.2% On Quarter In Q1

Australia GDP Adds 0.2% On Quarter In Q1

Australia's gross domestic product expanded a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent on quarter in the first quarter of 2025, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday.
RTTNews | 37 days ago
Australia Services PMI Ebbs In May - S&P Global

Australia Services PMI Ebbs In May - S&P Global

The services sector in Australia continued to expand in May, albeit it at a slower pace, the latest survey from S&P Global revealed on Wednesday with a services PMI score of 50.6.
RTTNews | 37 days ago