The Central Bank of Australia stated on Wednesday that the current monetary policy is restrictive and the current cash rate is putting economic pressure on many households, but if necessary, it could be tightened further to control inflation.
In a speech about banking in Melbourne, Reserve Bank of Australia Assistant Governor Christopher Kent said the 4.35% interest rate is leading to a slowdown in demand growth and a reduction in inflation.
"We know that many people are feeling the financial pinch due to rising interest rates," Kent said, noting that mortgage payments have increased to a record 10% of household disposable income.
Kent mentioned that the current interest rate is significantly higher than all estimates of the neutral rate, which neither stimulates nor suppresses economic growth.
Since May 2022, the Reserve Bank of Australia has raised rates by an astonishing 425 basis points, but with an inflation rate of 3.6%—well above its target range of 2-3%—it has kept rates unchanged for five consecutive meetings.
Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock told reporters earlier this month that the restrictive policy was one of the reasons policymakers were reluctant to raise rates further at the June policy meeting.
The market expects only a slight possibility of a rate cut until April next year and anticipates a reduction of just 43 basis points by the end of 2025.
Kent reiterated that the central bank is in no hurry to ease the policy.
