Reserve Bank of Australia keeps cash rate on-hold at 1.50%

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) at its September monetary policy meeting held today, left the official cash rate (OCR) unchanged at a record low of 1.50 percent for the twenty-third straight meeting.

The RBA statement read: “The low level of interest rates is continuing to support the Australian economy. Further progress in reducing unemployment and having inflation return to target is expected, although this progress is likely to be gradual. Taking account of the available information, the Board judged that holding the stance of monetary policy unchanged at this meeting would be consistent with sustainable growth in the economy and achieving the inflation target over time.”

With regard to the inflation level, the RBA added: “Inflation is around 2 per cent. The central forecast is for inflation to be higher in 2019 and 2020 than it is currently. In the interim, once-off declines in some administered prices in the September quarter are expected to result in headline inflation in 2018 being a little lower, at 1¾ per cent.”

On the exchange rate value: “The Australian dollar remains within the range that it has been in over the past two years on a trade-weighted basis, but it has depreciated against the US dollar along with most other currencies.”