Michele Bullock, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), revealed that Australia’s central bank is watching closely on inflation. According to Bullock, the bank is prepared to act if the increase begins again. The Governor’s remarks suggest that officials might consider implementing stricter policies again.
Following concerns raised about the central bank’s move, Bullock shared a statement dated Wednesday, December 3, noting that if consumer prices continue to escalate gradually, which will be revealed in the next couple of months, it will imply that demand pressures remain high. She made this argument during a parliamentary hearing in Canberra.
Sources commented on the argument, highlighting that these results could impact future monetary policy decisions. Respondly, Bullock acknowledged that as they await inflation to decline, they are fully knowledgeable about the likelihood that inflation pressures may be increasing. If this occurs, the governor assured that the board would take the necessary action.
Bullock Raises Concerns About Inflation
In reaction to Bullock’s remarks, traders decided to adjust their forecasts for a surge in the RBA rate to August next year. This new prediction suggests a 50% chance of the increase occurring, differing from their estimate made in November.
Moreover, recently released reports have noted that three-year government bond yields, which are sensitive to policy changes, have risen slightly.
Bullock’s statements come just before the announcement of third-quarter gross domestic product data, which is expected to show that the economy grew by 0.7% compared to the previous quarter. This growth will mark the fastest expansion since late 2022.
On the other hand, the sources mentioned that the RBA’s monetary policy board will hold a crucial meeting next week. During this meeting, analysts expect the officials to maintain interest rates unchanged at 3.6%.
When reporters reached out to Bullock to comment on the country’s economic progress, the governor stated that it is currently difficult to determine whether the economy is performing better than anticipated. However, she expressed her belief that the output gap has been filled. This meant that an unexpected rise in demand could swiftly result in price hikes.
“If we are already balanced and demand rises more sharply than we thought, it could create some upward inflation pressure,” Bullock explained.
Debates Emerge Over Central Bank's Interest Rate Decisions
Regarding the RBA’s decision on interest rates, economists shared different viewpoints. Several of them believe that another rate cut will occur next year, while some anticipate that the central bank will maintain its rates unchanged. Others speculate about a rate hike in the near future, aligning their viewpoint with that of the market.
Reports from reliable sources indicate that the RBA has lowered its key interest rate three times since February of this year. These reductions have lowered this rate to its lowest point since April 2023.
The bank also adopted a data-driven approach after inflation for the third quarter exceeded its target range of 2-3%. This occurred despite the job market remaining competitive.
Even with this finding, recent data demonstrates that the economy is displaying signs of strength. According to the released information, home prices continued to rise in November, business investments proved better than anticipated for the three months ended in September, and household spending has remained strong.
These results prompted some economists, like those at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and National Australia Bank Ltd., to caution about the likelihood of an interest rate increase in 2026.