Australia Inflation Rises In November

RTTNews | 22h 34min ago
Australia Inflation Rises In November

(RTTNews) - Australia's consumer price inflation accelerated in November largely due to the timing of electricity rebate, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday. Headline inflation rose to 2.3 percent in November from 2.1 percent in October. Inflation was slightly above economists' forecast of 2.2 percent.

However, annual trimmed mean inflation eased to 3.2 percent from 3.5 percent in October.

"Annual trimmed mean inflation remains higher than CPI inflation as it removed large price falls for electricity and automotive fuel," ABS head of prices statistics Michelle Marquardt said.

In some states and territories, households received two rebate payments in October in lieu of not receiving a payment in July, Marquardt said. From November, most households received one payment. As a result, electricity prices decreased 21.5 percent in November from a year ago, which was slower than the 35.6 percent annual fall in October.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is unlikely to pay much heed to the slight pickup in headline inflation, Capital Economics' economist Abhijit Surya said.

With underlying price pressures showing clear signs of cooling, there is a growing risk that the Bank will cut rates sooner than May, the economist noted.

Another report from ABS showed that the number of job vacancies increased for the first time since May 2022. Vacancies grew 4.2 percent in November from August. However, it was 10.3 percent lower than in November 2023.

read more
Australia Building Permits Sink 3.6% In November

Australia Building Permits Sink 3.6% In November

The total number of building permits issued in Australia was down a seasonally adjusted 3.6 percent on month in November, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday - coming in at 14,998.
RTTNews | 2 days ago
RBA Minutes: Australia GDP Remains Softer Than Expected

RBA Minutes: Australia GDP Remains Softer Than Expected

Members of the Reserve Bank of Australia's Monetary Policy Board said that the country's gross domestic product continues to be subdued and is softer than expected, minutes from the central bank's December 9-10 meeting revealed on Tuesday.
RTTNews | 16 days ago
Australia Budget To Slip Into Deficit In 2024-25

Australia Budget To Slip Into Deficit In 2024-25

Australia's budget is forecast to slip into deficit in 2024-25 after recording back-to-back surpluses for the first time in almost two decades, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Wednesday. In the latest Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the government projected a deficit of A$26.9 billion for 2024-25. However, this was A$1.3 billion smaller than projected in the budget.
RTTNews | 21 days ago
Australia Central Bank Keeps Rate Unchanged As Expected

Australia Central Bank Keeps Rate Unchanged As Expected

Australia central bank left its key interest rate unchanged for the ninth straight session on Tuesday but today's statement lifted hopes of an early interest rate cut. The policy board of the Reserve Bank of Australia governed by Michele Bullock decided to retain the cash rate target at a 13-year high of 4.35 percent. The decision matched expectations.
RTTNews | 29 days ago