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RBA governor Michele Bullock has sought to stand firm amid panic in financial markets.

RBACommentsSuper-sized rate cut less likely as Trump takes ‘off-ramp’

A top investment bank has walked back their prediction of a super-sized Reserve Bank interest rate cut in May just hours after Donald Trump backflipped on tariffs.

Matt Mckenzie

All eyes will be on the Reserve Bank to see how it responds to the tariff-induced financial chaos. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

professional - Women generalTrump tariff pause clouds outlook for rate cuts

Investors will closely scrutinise the Reserve Bank governor's first speech since the "Liberation Day" tariff dump as rate-cut prospects see-saw.

Jacob Shteyman

RBA boss Michele Bullock has to balance unemployment and inflation.

EconomyCommentsBank tips supersized rate cut for May

A big investment bank reckons a super-sized interest rate cut is coming next month as panicked markets up their bets on rate relief despite concerns about inflation.

Matt Mckenzie

RBA Governor Michele Bullock said the full impacts of the trade war are not yet clear — and the central bank also warned Australia’s fight against inflation was far from over.

EconomyComments‘Tread carefully’: Markets pile on bets for rate cuts

Panicked investors have bet on four to five more rate cuts through to the end of December as analysts predict President Donald Trump’s massive tax hikes will batter the US economy.

Matt Mckenzie

Michele Bullock on Tuesday talked down the RBA’s rate cut driving up house prices.

EconomyCommentsWe need more supply to cool house prices: Bullock

Governor Michele Bullock wants to dampen concern that the Reserve Bank’s February rate cut has sparked a resurgence of rising prices in Australia’s housing market.

Matt Mckenzie

Two economic indicators and US tariffs are set to determine whether interest rates fall in May. (Flavio Brancaleone/AAP PHOTOS)

RBAPremiumTwo data prints and a Trump wildcard to decide rate cut

Mortgage holders could know by April 30 whether to expect more interest rate relief, as the Reserve Bank casts its eyes on a crucial inflation reading.

Jacob Shteyman

RBA Governor Michele Bullock’s board signalled that it would be ready to act amid turmoil offshore, with an escalating global trade war driven by the United States.

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RBAComments
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RBA holds rates ahead of trade war storm

A cautious Reserve Bank has kept interest rates on hold, but declared it is ready to act as an escalating trade war sparks uncertainty about the future of the global economy.

Matt Mckenzie

There’s a Federal election around the corner and the central bank board will be very happy to keep its powder dry and well away from any suggestion of playing politics.

RBACommentsRBA RECAP: Election no factor in rates hold, says Bullock

With an eye on the possible market turmoil to come, the RBA says monetary policy is well placed to respond to global developments if they were to have material implications for Australia.

Daniel Newell

U.S. President Donald Trump gets out of a Tesla Model S on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2025.

EconomyCommentsTrump’s trade chaos shakes up markets

Share markets took a battering on Monday ahead of major economic news this week when the US reveals further tariffs and the Reserve Bank inks its next decision on interest rates.

Matt Mckenzie

Michele Bullock, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.

ASICCommentsASX cops ASIC, RBA lashing for December trade blunder

Australia’s corporate watchdog and central bank have scolded Australian Securities Exchange over “deep concerns” for its reliability as a trading house and for taking too long to fix incident-prone systems.

Simone Grogan

RBA governor Michele Bullock.

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EconomyComments
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Inflation posts slight fall ahead of RBA meeting

Economists have talked down the chances of back-to-back interest rate cuts when the RBA meets next week, despite inflation cooling slightly.

Matt Mckenzie

Mr Trump overnight promised a fresh round of import taxes on countries that buy oil from Venezuela, with China high on the list.

EconomyCommentsTrump’s trade war: China faces extra tariffs from US

Australia’s biggest export partner could be hit by an extra dose of tariffs from US President Donald Trump, even as signs of possible concessions helped calm markets on Tuesday.

Matt Mckenzie

Treasurer Jim Chalmers addresses the Queensland Media Club ahead of the 2025/26 Federal Budget, Brisbane, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AAP Image/Jono Searle) NO ARCHIVING

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EconomyComments
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Aussie jobs market goes backwards as older workers exit

An exodus of older workers has put an end to Australia’s remarkable run of strong jobs growth but the surprise numbers will be unlikely to spook the RBA.

Matt Mckenzie

Australian consumers and businesses hoping for quick relief from the Reserve Bank’s recent interest rate cut may be in for disappointment, according to RBA chief economist Sarah Hunter.

RBACommentsWhy interest rate relief may be slow to filter through

Australian consumers and businesses hoping for quick relief from the Reserve Bank’s recent interest rate cut may be in for disappointment, according to the RBA’s most senior economist.

Jackson Hewett

The Reserve Bank cut the official interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.1 per cent in February.

EconomyCommentsRate cut relief lifts consumer confidence to 3-year high

Westpac said the RBA’s decision to cut interest rates for the first time since late 2020, and further easing in cost of living pressures have provided a ‘clear lift’ in consumer sentiment.

Cheyanne Enciso

Black Friday at Karrinyup Shopping Centre.

EconomyConsumer sentiment at 3-year high on rate cut relief

Australia’s consumer confidence picked up in March as inflation pressures eased and the Reserve Bank reduced interest rates for the first time in four years. 

Frances Du

The Reserve Bank in February cut the official cash rate from 4.35 per cent to 4.10 per cent. (Flavio Brancaleone/AAP PHOTOS)

BusinessRBA deputy denies rate cut contradicted own forecasts

The Reserve Bank board did not disagree with its own staff over its inflation forecast as some commentators have suggested, deputy governor Andrew Hauser says.

Jacob Shteyman

Michele Bullock, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.

RBACommentsPremiumFeb rate cut doesn’t guarantee two in a row, says RBA

The Reserve Bank’s board expressed caution about future policy easing after cutting interest rates for the first time in four years, minutes of its February meeting show.

Swati Pandey

Slow productivity growth has made the inflation fight harder.

EconomyCommentsIt’s the hit that keeps on hitting

Slow productivity growth after the pandemic has shaved roughly $25 billion off Australia’s economic capacity, Reserve Bank research shows.

Matt Mckenzie

RBA Governor Michele Bullock.

EconomyCommentsVegetables, meat and bread all picking up steam

Australians will be “walking on eggshells” for the rest of 2025 waiting for certainty that inflation has come under control, an economist reckons.

Matt Mckenzie

Monthly consumer price data will be among the first set of figures analysed by the Reserve Bank. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

EconomyCommentsConsumer prices to gauge inflation fight raging in 2025

Price changes in January will be among the first set of data scoured by the Reserve Bank as it studies whether a further interest rate cut is on the cards.

Andrew Brown

Reserve Bank governor Michelle Bullock has made it clear that prices won’t be coming down. 

RBACommentsRBA sends clear message that high prices are here to stay

They are the five words Australians battling to get by didn’t want to hear, but the Reserve Bank governor has made it clear that prices won’t be coming down. 

Danielle Le Messurier and Jackson Hewett

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has made a remarkable turnaround from previous comments criticising the Reserve Bank for not cutting interest rates sooner.

Federal politicsComments‘I don’t second guess’: Chalmers’ remarkable RBA turnaround

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he won’t ‘second-guess’ the decisions made by the Reserve Bank of Australia despite previously saying they were ‘hammering’ working families.

Jessica Page

RBA Governor Michele Bullock says the interest rate cut had nothing to do with Government pressure.

RBACommentsInterest rate cut was not result of Govt pressure: RBA

Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock has scotched suggestions that this week’s interest rate cut was a “lay-down misere” as a result of Government pressure.

Jackson Hewett