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RBA expected to lift cash rate economy runs hotter than forecast: CBA economists

Economists say stronger‑than‑forecast underlying inflation strengthens the case for a February interest rate rise.

 

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With prices rising faster than the RBA wants, interest rates are back in focus: CommBank expects the RBA to lift the cash rate at its first meeting of 2026.

CommBank Senior Economist Trent Saunders shares what he does at CBA, what drew him to economics, and the big issues shaping Australia’s economic future.

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A stronger than expected jobs rebound in December adds pressure for a February rate hike.
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Rural Aid and CommBank expand Victorian bushfire support

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Michele Bullock

RBA expected to raise rates in February: CBA economists

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Faster growth and stubborn price pressures mean a small rate rise may be coming early in the new year, CBA economists say.

 

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What to know about the possible impact of Japan's rate hike

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Japan’s central bank has lifted interest rates to a 30-year high, a shift that could strengthen the yen and unsettle global markets.

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New Wage and Labour Insights report

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