Inflation

In just half a sentence, the Reserve Bank board dashed the rate cut hopes of millions of mortgage borrowers. Does it risk condemning the Australian economy to recession as well?

Economists had widely predicted rates would remain steady at 4.35 per cent after inflation fell more than expected in the year to December.

Risks of a recession in the United States reduces as growth steady and inflation starts to come down.

Leaving the cash rate unchanged today is all but a foregone conclusion for the RBA. Behind closed doors, you can't help but wonder if November's rate hike was a mistake as the economy cools, writes Ian Verrender.

The ABS data has prompted calls for a parliamentary inquiry into they skyrocketing prices.

A raft of official economic data suggests Australia's economy suddenly hit a wall in December. Is the data wrong, or did the Reserve Bank raise rates one time too many in November?

Regardless of whether Australia's economic picture is improving or heading for a crash, it's unlikely voters will have stage 3 tax cuts front of mind come the next general election, writes Melissa Clarke. 

House prices are on track to rise across the country, propelled by renters and migrants wanting to buy their own homes and buyers trying to get in ahead of interest rate cuts expected later this year.

ABS data shows inflation is at a two year low at 4.1 per cent after a December quarter reading coming in at lower than expected 0.6 per cent, these latest figures make further interest rate rises look very unlikely.

The numbers are expected to all-but guarantee there will be no interest rate rise next week.

Inflation comes in lower than expected, with prices rising just 0.6 per cent over the December quarter and 4.1 per cent over the past year.

There's been a lot of talk about changes to bracket creep, but what exactly is it and how will the proposed changes affect you?

A Hong Kong court has ordered one of China's biggest property developers, Evergrande Group, to liquidate, which could have severe consequences not just for China, but other economies including Australia. 

Australians with a mortgage are doing the heavy lifting when it comes to taming inflation, raising questions over how fair the system is.

Mortgage holder Daniel Wigg has wondered why people like him bear the brunt for taming inflation and if there are any alternatives that are more equitable.

Numerous people have contacted the ABC asking questions about interest rates and offering suggestions about possible alternatives. We put some of those questions to an economist.

The "tax cuts" were part of a plan set in motion by the previous Coalition government, with a key aim of protecting middle-income earners from bracket creep.

Now is a particularly good time to announce measures to address the cost of living crisis. We need them because things are a lot worse than the official index suggests, writes Peter Martin. 

Ahead of Labor's cost-of-living caucus, the crosshairs have again settled on the stage 3 tax cuts that are months away from handing more than $20 billion a year from the government back to (mainly) higher income earners.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles says the major supermarkets have agreed to participate in the inquiry. It comes after he met with supermarket executives yesterday.

The current row between a Dubai-owned stevedore, DP World, and the Maritime Union of Australia could reignite inflation and cause the Reserve Bank to continue lifting interest rates, experts say. There are calls for federal minister Tony Burke to intervene. 

Cost-of-living remains one of the biggest pressure points for millions of Australian families, and the latest figures out today showed some better-than-expected news.

The inflation rate has come in at low 4.3 per cent which has some experts thinking the Reserve Bank is done hiking interest rates.

Economist Catherine Birch says it's likely there won't be a rate hike in February as inflation dropped to 4.3 per cent. 

The latest monthly indicator from the ABS shows consumer prices rose at their slowest pace in almost two years in November.