Australia’s central bank said it considered three options for the size of its first interest-rate increase since 2010, according to minutes of its May 3 policy meeting, when it raised the cash rate by 25 basis points.
The board agreed that hiking by 15 basis points, as forecast by most economists, didn’t make sense given policy was very stimulatory and it was highly probable further rate rises would be required, the Reserve Bank said.
It acknowledged an argument could be made for 40 basis points before opting for 25 basis points to signal a return to normal operating procedures following the pandemic, the minutes showed Tuesday.
The RBA’s decision to raise rates by a larger-than-expected 25 basis points to 0.35% saw it join global counterparts in the struggle against inflation. Governor Philip Lowe has signaled further hikes are in prospect after first-quarter inflation hit 5.1%, the fastest pace in more than 20 years.
Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s virus lockdowns threaten to further fuel consumer-price pressures. That comes on top of a local economy that’s already recovering robustly, with low unemployment and strong consumer spending, the RBA said in the minutes.
They also agreed that further increases in interest rates would likely be required to ensure that inflation in Australia returns to the target over time.
Data Wednesday is predicted to show a slight acceleration in annual wages growth to 2.5%, about half the rise in consumer prices. The RBA has said liaison with businesses indicates material gains in labor costs are expected in the period ahead. Jobs data Thursday is forecast to show the unemployment rate dropped below 4% in April for the first time in decades.
