Australia's unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to 4.2 per cent in December, its lowest level since August 2008 and sparking speculation of a rise in the official cash rate later this year.
Economists had predicted the jobless rate easing to 4.5 per cent from 4.6 per cent in November.
The decline was even faster than the Reserve Bank of Australia had been expecting just a few months ago and had not expected to hit 4.25 per cent until the end of 2022.
