Reserve Bank keeps interest rates on hold but many more Australians to soon hit breaking point
1 year, 5 months ago

Reserve Bank keeps interest rates on hold but many more Australians to soon hit breaking point

ABC  

The Reserve Bank of Australia held its meeting today — the first chaired by new governor Michele Bullock – and economists and markets were right in widely tipping that it would keep interest rates on hold. Some fear this "higher for longer" interest rate environment that central banks have warned of could mean we soon hit a breaking point. The strain from interest rate hikes is already starting to show, with RBA data this week confirming that more Australians are being pushed into financial hardship, which could worsen in the coming weeks and months as another 550,000 Australians roll off fixed mortgages and onto higher variable rates. For those thinking that the end of higher interest rates is near — at the start of the year, most economists were betting there would be rate hikes in early 2024 — the expectation now is that rates will, as the US Federal Reserve indicated following its September meeting, stay "higher for longer". Borrowers rolling off fixed rates in for a world of pain Photo shows Sarah in a bright yellow shirt outside her Sydney home in June 2022 As interest rates rise, more people could default on their home loans, creating financial system instability.

History of this topic

Bank of England holds interest rates at 4.5% amid 'Stagflation' fears: Cuts paused as wages surge despite economic slowdown driven by Labour's tax raid and Trump's trade war
1 week, 5 days ago
RBA delivers first rate cut since 2020
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Australian shares marginally extend losses after RBA cuts rate as expected
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Australian central bank cuts benchmark interest rate for the first time since October 2020
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Borrowers on edge ahead of RBA decision
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Why the Reserve Bank has little option but to cut interest rates
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Reserve Bank cuts interest rates to 4.1 per cent after 13 rate hikes — as it happened
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Reserve Bank cuts interest rates for the first time since November 2020
1 month, 2 weeks ago
How banks are responding to Reserve Bank decision to cut interest rates
1 month, 2 weeks ago
When will interest rates go down? Banks are preparing for the RBA's cash rate decision
1 month, 2 weeks ago
RBA interest rate decision closely watched by families in mortgage stress in key marginal electorate
1 month, 2 weeks ago
The RBA hasn't changed the cash rate for more than a year. Here's why
1 month, 3 weeks ago
When does the RBA meet, what's expected to happen to interest rates and how much could you save?
1 month, 4 weeks ago
How Federal Reserve's interest rate pause will impact regular American wallets
2 months ago
A February interest rate cut is a real possibility, but there's at least one hurdle to clear
2 months, 3 weeks ago
When will interest rates go down in Australia? Here's what we know
2 months, 3 weeks ago
RBA chief's major hint that there could soon be some VERY good news ahead for home-owners
3 months, 1 week ago
RBA Is More Confident on CPI, But Too Early to Declare Victory
3 months, 1 week ago
Bank of England set to keep UK interest rates on hold despite paltry economic growth
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Bank of England set to keep interest rates on hold TODAY despite UK economy stalling after Labour's Budget raid - with fears over resurgent inflation
Top News
3 months, 2 weeks ago
NZ recession and Federal Reserve rate cut sink Aussie dollar but show the RBA dodged a bullet
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Meet the new Reserve Bank executive who says it is unfair to blame record immigration for the housing crisis
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Bank of England expected to hold interest rates after jump in inflation
3 months, 2 weeks ago
The RBA is preparing for all economic scenarios, including an interest rate hike
3 months, 2 weeks ago
Reserve Bank governor opens door to February interest rate cut, but will she walk through?
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Major blow for Aussies just before Christmas as Reserve Bank makes interest rate decision
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Reserve Bank keeps interest rates on hold in December but leaves door open to a February cut
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Why the bout between the Reserve Bank and the federal government is about to heat up
3 months, 4 weeks ago
The politics of the RBA's independence means a struggle over Australia's economic outlook is being fought in the shadows
4 months ago
RBA Governor Michele Bullock rejects suggestion there's too much government spending in Australia, saying things could be 'much worse' without it
4 months ago
Why Australia is lagging the pack on rate cuts
4 months, 2 weeks ago
Sharply rising bond rates could stem Wall Street's 'relief rally' and push interest rate cuts further into the future
4 months, 3 weeks ago
Interest rates might fall in February … but don't bet the house on it
4 months, 3 weeks ago
RBA governor Michele Bullock gives blunt spending warning to Treasurer Jim Chalmers as election nears
4 months, 3 weeks ago
Review finds 'no evidence' gunshots were deliberately edited into commando footage — as it happened
Trending News
4 months, 4 weeks ago
Reserve Bank keeps interest rates at 4.35pc for eighth-straight meeting despite lower inflation
4 months, 4 weeks ago
The cheapest home loan interest rate in Australia as banks slash rates
5 months, 4 weeks ago
The great New Zealand rate hike experiment and where it all went wrong
6 months ago
Major bank makes big call on interest rates - here's when home borrowers can expect some relief
6 months ago
No RBA rate cut yet, but Governor Bullock is about to find the pressure overwhelming
6 months, 1 week ago
When will interest rates go down? Here's what you need to know ahead of today's RBA meeting
6 months, 1 week ago
Reserve Bank keeps interest rates on hold at 4.35pc, ignoring political pressure for cut
6 months, 1 week ago
These numbers are the clues to the Reserve Bank's puzzle: when will interest rates go down?
6 months, 1 week ago
How the US Federal Reserve rate cut could impact the race for the White House between Harris and Trump
6 months, 2 weeks ago
Bank of England poised to hold interest rates at 5%, economists say
6 months, 2 weeks ago
Why is the US cutting interest rates? What does it mean for Australia?
6 months, 2 weeks ago
Why the Reserve Bank will be forced to cut rates before year's end
6 months, 3 weeks ago
More people are seeking help as Australia's economy slows down, RBA governor acknowledges
6 months, 4 weeks ago
The RBA is making confusion about inflation and the cost of living even worse
7 months ago
The US is about to start cutting interest rates, so expect Australia to follow
7 months ago

Discover Related