Labor opens door to negotiating with Greens on RBA reforms after Coalition blocks proposal Peter Dutton’s opposition also puts up new roadblocks to potential deal on government’s aged care reforms The Guardian - AU · Sep 10, 2024
Coalition torpedoes bipartisan deal on Reserve Bank monetary policy board The federal opposition has torpedoed Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ attempt to get a bipartisan deal to install a specialist monetary policy board in the Reserve Bank, claiming the reform would enable the treasurer to “stack” the new board. The Conversation · Sep 10, 2024
Rates veto power must stay: Greens issue RBA demands The Greens want the treasurer to intervene and force the RBA to lower interest rates as it lays out its demands for support on troubled central bank reforms. AAP · Sep 10, 2024
Treasurer distances himself from his former boss’ Reserve Bank attack Treasurer Jim Chalmers has distanced himself from the strident attack his one-time boss Wayne Swan launched on the Reserve Bank, which the former treasurer accused of “putting economic dogma over rational decision-making”. The Conversation · Sep 8, 2024
Landlord's market as property investor lending swells Lending to investors continues to lead the charge and outpace home loans taken out by owner-occupiers. AAP · Sep 5, 2024
Severe weather warnings for parts of NSW and Victoria – as it happened This blog is now closed The Guardian - AU · Sep 4, 2024
Fading economy yet to unlock rate cuts for watchful RBA The economy might be slowing but the Reserve Bank chief wants inflation to moderate further before opening the door to interest rate cuts. AAP · Sep 4, 2024
After working for the RBA for 30 years, here’s how I’d make it more accountable How can we tell if the Reserve Bank of Australia – which sets the interest rates that shape our national and household budgets – is doing a good job? The Conversation · Sep 2, 2024
Bank chiefs don't rate a quick end to costs crunch Interest rates might have reached their peak but the head of Westpac says many households are still grappling with tight budgets. AAP · Aug 28, 2024
The RBA is making confusion about inflation and the cost of living even worse There’s a paradox about the way we respond to threats to the cost of living. The Conversation · Aug 28, 2024
Stand by for interest rate cuts: the US is about to start, so expect Australia to follow Just three weeks ago, Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock declared interest rate cuts unlikely in the next six months. But if there was any doubt about what’s going to happen to global interest rates, the US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell removed it on Saturday. The Conversation · Aug 27, 2024
Door opens for long-delayed Reserve Bank reforms The federal treasurer has shifted on key opposition demands in order to secure support for changes to modernise and strengthen the Reserve Bank. AAP · Aug 23, 2024
‘Doing nothing is not an option’ – top economists back planning reform and public housing as fixes for Australia’s housing crisis Top economists are unanimous in believing Australia’s housing market is in crisis. The Conversation · Aug 18, 2024
Meeting minutes to show RBA dancing to its own beat Markets will turn their attention to the Reserve Bank's latest board meeting minutes but they might be better off looking further afield for new insights. AAP · Aug 18, 2024
The Guardian - AU · Aug 18, 2024 Australia’s productivity riddle – and what it might mean for interest rates Michele Bullock keeps telling us productivity is flatlining. How it changes may well determine if the Reserve Bank will tolerate wage rises beyond 3%
AAP · Aug 15, 2024 Building costs in the frame for ongoing housing crisis The Reserve Bank says it is closely monitoring the housing shortage, but dismisses reports a construction union is to blame for escalating costs.
The Conversation · Aug 15, 2024 Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers flags deal on Reserve Bank’s new structure is close Cost of living remains at the top of people’s minds as inflation stays sticky. With an election in less than a year, the government has been doing what it can to address some of the pressures. But the Reserve Bank doesn’t envisage an interest rate cut this year, and has…
The Guardian - AU · Aug 8, 2024 RBA ‘will not hesitate’ to raise interest rates again to combat inflation, Michele Bullock warns Reserve Bank governor says there is ‘considerable uncertainty’ over Australia’s economic future and the board ‘remains vigilant’
The Guardian - AU · Aug 7, 2024 Commonwealth Bank still predicts interest rate cut in 2024 as RBA defends keeping cash rate on hold Reserve Bank’s chief economist says it is ‘difficult’ to hear the stories of those who ‘are struggling’
The Conversation · Aug 6, 2024 The RBA says don’t expect interest rate cuts for 6 months. Here’s why it could be sooner Days ago, at the start of last week, there was talk of a Reserve Bank rate hike.
The Conversation · Aug 1, 2024 Owner beware: 4 reasons why selling part of Kiwibank could do more harm than good To sell, or not to sell – that is the question various governments have asked since Kiwibank was established in 2002. Now it’s the turn of the current National-led coalition to examine the bank’s state ownership.
The Conversation · Jul 31, 2024 Australia’s 3.8% inflation rate is concerning, but not enough to trigger a rate rise After falling for five consecutive quarters to less than half of its 7.8% peak, inflation climbed slightly in the June quarter, from 3.6% to 3.8% for the year to June.
The Guardian - AU · Jul 2, 2024 Low inflation targeting is such a dubious idea. Why did the Reserve Bank adopt it in the first place? As we struggle with higher interest rates and unemployment, this is the price we have to pay to restore the ‘credibility’ of the RBA
The Conversation · Jun 30, 2024 Cheaper mortgages, tamed inflation and even higher home prices: how 29 forecasters see Australia’s economic recovery in 2024-25 Australia’s top economic forecasters expect the Reserve Bank to start cutting interest rates by March next year, taking 0.35 points of its cash rate by June.
The Guardian - AU · Jun 27, 2024 Can Australia’s borrowers dodge another interest rate hike? We’ll know more soon May’s inflation figures sent alarm bells ringing that the RBA would hike rates. But technically we are still on track for the central bank’s target