At the moment inflation in Australia as just dropped back within the "target band" - dropping to an annual rate of 2.8% with the release of the latest 0.1% rise in CPI for the March 2009 quarter. This was lower than expected (0.5% was the consensus), and follows on from a -0.3% decline in the previous quarter.
With the past two quarters producing a drop in CPI of -0.2%, and the global economy not yet showing much sign of recovery, I can't imagine the next two quarters will show CPI increases of more than 0.5% each. That would see annual inflation drop to below 1% by the end of 2009 - well below the RBA target.
And yet despite the definite prospect of inflation dropping below 2%, the RBA seems more worried about cutting interest rates too far and creating excessive inflation pressures once the economy starts to recover. Indeed, the RBA only seems to show concern if there is a prospect of deflation. If that's the case, why not set the inflation "target" as 0%-3%, rather than having a target that isn't fair dinkum?
Subscribe to Enough Wealth. Copyright 2006-2008
No comments:
Post a Comment