Despite painting a slightly more upbeat picture on economic outlook in the quarterly monetary statement, RBA maintained the stance that it’s no where near a move interest rate. 2018 year-average GDP growth projection was raised slightly from 3.25% to 3.50%. 2019 GDP growth projection was kept unchanged at 3.25%. Meanwhile, 2020 year-average GDP growth projection was raised slightly from 3.00% to 3.25% too. Unemployment rate is forecast to drop to 5.00% by end of 2018, stay there through 2019 and then drop further to 4.75% in by June 2020.
Headline inflation by December 2018 was raised from 1.75% to 2.00%, indicating that the temporary drag was less severe than expected. CPI would then climb further to 2.25% by December 2019 and stay there still December 2020, unrevised. Core inflation is projected to be at 1.75% by the end of 2018. Core CPI would then rise to 2.25% by December 2019, revised up from 2.00%. For December 2020, core CPI is projected to stay at 2.25%, unrevised.
RBA pointed out that “household income remains a key uncertainty around this forecast, especially in the context of high household debt and a slowing housing market.” It added further that the uncertainty is on “outlook for household income growth” and “how households may respond to significant housing price declines”.
But after all, RBA maintained that “given the expected gradual nature of that progress,” if reducing unemployment and improving inflation, “the Board does not see a strong case to adjust the cash rate in the near term.”
