RBA left cash rate unchanged at 1.00% as widely expected. Australian Dollar pares back some of earlier loss as the central bank doesn’t turn more dovish in the accompanying statement, even though easing bias is maintained. Instead, RBA just noted that “it is reasonable to expect that an extended period of low interest rates will be required”. And the board will continue to “monitor developments, including in the labour market, and ease monetary policy further if needed”.
RBA expected growth to “strengthen gradually to be around trend over the next couple of years”. Main domestic uncertainty continues to be consumption outlook. However, wages growth remains “subdued” with “little upward pressure”. And the Australian economy can “sustain lower rates of unemployment and underemployment”. Inflation pressures also remain “subdued”. On the positive side, there are “further signs of a turnaround” in housing markets, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. Such stabilization is expected to support spending.
Released earlier, Australia retail sales dropped -0.1% mom in July, below expectation of 0.2% mom. Current account surplus widened to AUD 5.9B in Q2, above expectation of AUD 1.5B.
