أستراليا سعر الفائدة

The Reserve Bank of Australia maintained its cash rate at 4.35% during its March meeting, as widely expected. Tuesday's move came amid signs that economic growth has slowed following a total of 425bps rate hike over the past two years. Meanwhile, inflation continued to ease amid moderation in goods prices. The cost of services stayed elevated, with a more gradual pace of easing. The board said its highest priority was returning inflation to target within a reasonable timeframe, adding that it needed to be sure that prices are moving towards the 2–3% range in 2025 and the midpoint in 2026. The central viewed that the interest rate path remained uncertain as it did not rule anything in or out, and relied upon the data and the assessment of risks. The committee reiterated that it will closely monitor the global economy, trends in domestic demand, and the outlook for inflation and the labor market. The board also kept the interest rate on Exchange Settlement balances unchanged at 4.25%.