Swati Pandey

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces a bumpy road to reelection with sticky inflation pushing back the timetable for interest-rate relief, raising the prospect of further financial stress for households about a year from the next ballot.

Australia’s inflation came in faster than expected in the first three months of 2024, suggesting price pressures are proving sticky and reinforcing the case for the Reserve Bank to hold interest rates at a 12-year high next month.

Singapore’s central bank kept its monetary policy unchanged for a fourth straight time on still-elevated price pressures, a decision seen by some economists as indicative that tight settings will probably stay in the months ahead.

Australia’s central bank will act to ensure enough liquidity is available to keep the financial system running smoothly as billions of dollars of bonds it bought during the pandemic fall due, according to Assistant Governor Christopher Kent.

Australian retail sales moderated in February despite Taylor Swift-driven demand, as households remained cautious about their finances with inflation still elevated and interest rates at a 12-year high.

Australia’s consumer confidence fell in March as households remain concerned about their finances and the near-term prospects for the economy, with little sign interest rates are about to begin coming down.

Australia’s central bank signaled it’s done tightening monetary policy after leaving interest rates at a 12-year high, sparking a selloff in the currency and a rally in bonds.

Australia Interest Rates: RBA Set to Extend Rate Pause - Bloomberg

A New South Wales state plan to build apartments around Sydney train stations has run into local opposition.

Australia’s Labor government and opposition coalition are at an impasse over the composition of the Reserve Bank’s new monetary policy committee, potentially derailing legislation needed to underpin changes to the institution.