Chalmers declares worst of inflation battle 'well and truly behind us'
Jim Chalmers would make a lousy poker player. Despite a senior cabinet minister admitting privately to this writer that Labor can ill-afford wanton displays of hubris at the prospect of looming interest rate relief — after all, too many households are still in pain — the treasurer struggled to contain his glee over Wednesday's inflation data. Like a man settling scores against a buzzing cloud of gadflies, Chalmers used his post-CPI press conference to chip market economists who confidently predicted three rate hikes this year, and poked at his political shadow Angus Taylor's claims that Australia lags other countries in curbing inflation. Chalmers argued through all of last year that his strategy has been to help the Reserve Bank walk the "narrow path" of using interest rates to tackle inflation while keeping the economy afloat by supporting jobs and wages growth. Either way, Wednesday's inflation outcome may well turn out to be the Albanese government's first genuine political break in well over a year.
Budget forecasts faster inflation drop than expected by RBA as government defends figures
Discover Related
Donald Trump urges ‘perfect time’ for rate cut as Jerome Powell warns of ’larger than expected’ tariff-driven inflation
Federal Reserve chief says Trump tariffs likely to raise inflation and slow US economic growth
Riksbank Minutes Show Policy Makers Unfazed by Inflation Jump
Is Trump’s fiscal daredevilry a ticking time bomb for the US economy?
With outlook uncertain, the Bank of England joins the US Fed in putting interest rates on hold
Fed projections show economy radically changed by Trump’s election
Stagflation, explained: What to know about the latest economic forecast
US Fed expected to sit tight as Trump tariff fears buffet markets
"Progress may be delayed": Powell blames stubborn inflation on Trump tariffs
‘Stagflation’ risk puts Federal Reserve in tricky spot as it meets this week
'Stagflation' fears grow as US Fed prepares key interest rate decision
Inflation may prevent the Fed from fending off a recession
US inflation cooled in February, but Trump’s tariff plans and trade war loom
Fed Chair Powell says he’s not worried about the economy amid Trump’s tariff chaos
The Fed’s next inflation test is here. How it will guide interest rates.
Inflation is easing, but another alarm bell is ringing about the US economy
Chalmers cherry-picked Treasury's costing of Coalition lunch policy
UK inflation and interest rates 2025 predictions: What it means for your money
If Trump wants to fix the inflation crisis, he has a funny way of showing it
Trump is one month in and Americans are already mad at him about inflation
US Fed Meeting Minutes: Officials signal caution on interest rate amid inflation concerns
UK inflation spikes to a 10-month high, likely to worry the Bank of England
Markets scale back US Fed rate cut bets for 2025 amid inflation uncertainty