MNI BRIEF: RBA Holds Cash Rate At 4.35%
MNI (SYDNEY) - The Reserve Bank of Australia Board kept the cash rate steady at 4.35% Tuesday, repeating it would not rule anything “in or out” due to continued high underlying inflation.
“While headline inflation has declined substantially and will remain lower for a time, underlying inflation is more indicative of inflation momentum, and it remains too high,” the Board said in a statement. “The November SMP forecasts suggest that it will be some time yet before inflation is sustainably in the target range and approaching the [2.5%] midpoint.”
The Board’s decision was largely anticipated. (See MNI RBA WATCH: Board To Hold, Could Signal Shift In Stance) The RBA has now held the cash rate steady since November 2023.
The Reserve’s updated November forecasts within the Statement on Monetary Policy showed a slight downward adjustment to trimmed mean inflation, the RBA’s preferred measure, with the metric falling to 3% by Q2 2025, 10 basis points lower than August's forecasts. Its cash rate assumptions were also 10 basis point higher for Q2 2025 to 4.1%.
Governor Michele Bullock will address the media at 3:30pm (AEDT).