Rates pushed to 13-year high
THE central bank has today boosted official interest rates by 25 basis points to 7.25 per cent, the highest level in over 13 years, to combat a sharp rise in inflation.
"Inflation is likely to remain relatively high in the short term," the Reserve Bank of Australia said today.
"The (RBA) board concluded that a further tightening in monetary policy was needed," the RBA said, adding that it would continue to monitor inflation in setting interest rates.
Official rates are now at their highest level since December 1994 – and analysts are predicting interest rates could reach 8 per cent this year given persistently high inflation.
"We expect that there will probably be a follow up to today's rate rise with another one in April," said James Shugg, a senior economist with Westpac. "And there is the risk of another rate rise another that," Mr Shugg said.
The RBA sets rates to keep inflation between 2 to 3 per cent, but underlying inflation is now approaching 4 per cent despite the RBA’s repeated attempts to place a lid on rising consumer prices.
The central bank has raised interest rates seven times in two years.
"There's a possibility that the cash rate will be raised to 8 per cent," said said Macquarie Group senior economist Brian Redican. "Inflation is the most persistent it has been in 15 years."
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