Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Reserve Bank of Australia Meeting (May 2026)

Given the potential for incoming inflation data to surprise to the upside of the RBA’s expectations, we think further policy tightening remains likely.

5th May 2026 · 3 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Australia Household Spending (Mar./Q1 2026)

With household spending holding up well in the face of the oil price shock, the RBA is unlikely to have major qualms about tightening policy further.

5th May 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Australia Consumer Prices (Q1/Mar. 26)

Inflation didn’t rise as much last quarter as most had anticipated but the full impact of the energy cost shock has yet to be felt.

29th April 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

New Zealand Consumer Prices (Q1 2026)

While headline inflation remains well above the midpoint of the RBNZ’s target, the continued softening of underlying inflation means that the Bank won’t be in a rush to tighten policy.

21st April 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Australia Labour Market (March 2026)

The latest data will reinforce the RBA’s assessment that upside risks to inflation are greater than downside risks to the labour market.

16th April 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Reserve Bank of New Zealand Meeting (April 26)

8th April 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Australia Household Spending (Feb. 26)

The recent weakness in household spending won’t stop the RBA from hiking interest rates at its upcoming meeting next month given concerns about an unanchoring of inflation expectations.

7th April 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Australia Consumer Prices (Feb. 2026)

The mild pullback in headline inflation in February won’t allay the RBA’s concerns about upside risks to the inflation outlook. We still think there’s a strong case for continued policy tightening.

25th March 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Australia Labour Market (Feb. 26)

With inflation set to approach 5%, the renewed rise in the unemployment in February won’t prevent the RBA from hiking rates further.

19th March 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

New Zealand GDP (Q4 2025)

With the economy still operating with substantial excess capacity, we think the RBNZ will leave rates on hold for several months to come. However, there is a high degree of uncertainty around the...

18th March 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Reserve Bank of Australia Meeting (March 2026)

Amid concerns that the ongoing energy price spike will adversely affect the inflation outlook, the RBA raised rates by 25bp at its meeting today. However, the decision was made by the narrowest of...

17th March 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Australia Monthly Household Spending Indicator (Jan. 26)

The tepid rise in consumer spending lessens the urgency for the RBA to hike rates at its upcoming meeting in mid-March. Even so, the Bank has more work to do in order to close the positive output gap...

5th March 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Australia GDP (Q4 2025)

Although the underlying details were a mixed bag, we suspect the RBA will still be concerned that growth is running above potential in Australia.

4th March 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Australia Consumer Prices (January 2026)

Trimmed mean inflation climbed to a fresh high in January, consistent with our view that the Reserve Bank of Australia will keep tightening monetary policy.

25th February 2026 · 2 mins read

Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response

Australia Labour Market (Jan. 26)

With the January labour force survey confirming that the labour market is tightening rather than loosening as the RBA had anticipated, the Bank has more work to do.

19th February 2026 · 2 mins read