Australian Inflation Steady in Apr., Rate Cut Hopes Intact
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The current annual inflation rate in Australia is 7%, according to ABS data released in April for the March quarter. This figure is down from a 30-year high of 7.8% in the previous quarter.
AUSTRALIAN shares climbed on Wednesday, reaching their highest levels in more than three months, supported by strength in banking and mining stocks ahead of the release of April inflation data later in the day.
AUD/USD slipped around 0.65% to 0.6408 following the decision, reversing Monday’s modest gains. Political instability added to the bearish tone after the National Party withdrew support from Australia’s opposition coalition.
The Reserve Bank board statement referred to “the heightened level of uncertainty” in the world economy and said it had “considered a severe downside scenario.”
The RBA cut its cash rate by 25 bps to 3.85%, citing moderating inflation and heightened global uncertainty as key reasons for the move. Updated forecasts show weaker growth and inflation, but a resilient labor market,
MEBOURNE, Australia (AP ... center-left Labor Party came to power in 2022’s elections. The rate has been raised a dozen times since then, peaking at 4.35% in November 2023. Annual inflation peaked that year at 7.8%. The central bank reduced the ...