On November 7th, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) once again opted to raise interest rates, presenting a significant hurdle for many Australians. The formidable task of curbing inflation continues to be a pivotal challenge in the post-pandemic world. As governments globally allocated substantial resources to counteract the economic repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, prices surged at an unprecedented rate. In response, central banks initiated the most aggressive and synchronized monetary policy tightening observed in the past four decades.
Although inflation has eased since reaching its peak in December 2022, the struggle endures, given the RBA’s target inflation rate of 2-3% per annum. The concern is heightened by the fact that inflation for September stood at 5.6%, indicating a slight increase from previous months.
For statistics on inflation, click here. Pay close attention to the accompanying chart, which illustrates inflation rates exceeding 5.8% from 1973 to 1984, peaking at a staggering 17.7%. This historical perspective serves as a stark reminder of past highs, with variable interest rates on mortgages hitting 17% in 1989.
Effectively addressing the intricacies of inflation requires a refined understanding of economic dynamics, particularly in light of evolving global circumstances.
