CPI shows signs of levelling out
The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.2% in the March quarter, after a fall of 0.5% in the December 2015 quarter.
Most inflation measures picked up, suggesting inflation may have bottomed out but it is still very weak, well below the bottom of the 1% to 3% target of the Reserve Bank.
That would normally prompt the bank to cut the cash rate to try to stimulate inflation. But on the other hand, Real Estate Institute data shows house price inflation has picked up substantially after what seemed to be a slowdown earlier in the year.
The CPI increase was driven by higher prices for cigarettes, food and housing. Housing-related prices continue to be the main upward contributor, up 3% in the year. This rise was led by higher prices for rent (up 2.3%) and newly-built houses excluding land, up 5%.
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