finder.com.au
32+ Exclusive Offers

RBA Cash Rate

Your destination for RBA news, expert forecasts and more

hold

1.50%

Cash rate hold

at 1.50% on Tuesday 6 November 2018

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) sets the official cash rate target on the first Tuesday of every month except January. Below are expert forecasts from the finder.com.au Reserve Bank Survey™ of some of Australia's brightest minds in economics and property. You can also learn more about the RBA and how its decisions influence the interest rates banks charge, and learn about the best strategies for home owners and investors when there's a rate cut, hold or rise decision.

100% of the experts in our survey correctly predicted the cash rate to hold.

100%of our resident rate experts

correctly predicted the rate to hold at 1.50% on Tuesday 6 November 2018 View forecasts →

Next meeting: 2:30pm 4th December 2018

By signing up, you agree to the finder.com.au Privacy & Cookies Policy and Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy

Our resident rate experts

+ Open all commentary

Find out what each of our experts predicts for next month and their detailed forecast explanations

Janu Chan

+ Read Janu's full forecast
October

N/A

November

No change

Low inflation and slow wage growth continue to point to scope for the RBA to leave the cash rate on hold.

Saul Eslake

+ Read Saul's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

Although most recently reported economic growth figures were 'above trend', and unemployment rate is 5% - the level traditionally regarded as signifying 'full employment' - the above trend growth is unlikely to be sustained in the near-term, the unemployment figure was probably 'rogue', there is still a lot of spare capacity in the labour market by other measures, the RBA itself has started to 'wonder out loud' that unemployment probably needs to be lower for longer than history suggests before wages growth starts to pick up - and, most importantly of all, the latest CPI data show 'underlying' inflation still running below the RBA's target range.

Bill Evans

+ Read Bill's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

N/A

Stephen Koukoulas

+ Read Stephen's full forecast
October

N/A

November

No change

RBA is continuing to ignore its inflation target otherwise it would be cutting.

Andrew Wilson

+ Read Andrew's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

Drums are beating louder for a cut but RBA have somewhat painted themselves into a corner with recent consistent statements that next move likely to be up. Ordinary inflation data, unions marching in the streets demanding higher wages, stockmarket crumbling and housing markets tanking. If next wages index remains benign then a louder cut chorus will be heard - clock ticking.

Leanne Pilkington

Leanne Pilkington

+ Read Leanne's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

We can’t see any reason for a Cup Day surprise this year. The subdued housing market, particularly the major markets of Sydney and Melbourne, combined with a weak inflation rate beneath the target range should continue to keep rates low in the short to medium term.

John Hewson

John Hewson

+ Read John's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

Uncertain data - economy slowing.

MIchaelYardneyHeadshot100px

Michael Yardney

+ Read Michael's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

The RBA must be a little worried with the current crisis in consumer confidence. If anything it may want to err on the side of caution and lower rates, but it is likely to take a wait and see approach.

Shane Oliver

+ Read Shane's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

The fall in the official unemployment rate to 5% helped by above trend economic growth is good news. But the slide in home prices in Sydney and Melbourne risks accelerating as banks tighten lending standards which in turn threatens consumer spending and wider economic growth and inflation and wages growth remain low. Against this backdrop it remains appropriate for the RBA to leave rates on hold.

Peter Boehm

+ Read Peter's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

There are no economic or financial reasons to move rates at this stage.

AlisonBoothANU

Alison Booth

+ Read Alison's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

The fundamentals have not yet altered enough to warrant any change.

Tim Nelson

+ Read Tim's full forecast
October

N/A

November

No change

RBA believes current state of monetary policy is acting to gradually reduce unemployment with inflation in check.

Thieliant

Marcel Thieliant

+ Read Marcel's full forecast
October

N/A

November

No change

While the unemployment rate is now close to the RBA's estimate of the natural unemployment, the RBA will want to see more evidence that wage growth is picking up. What's more, the RBA will want to see how the housing downturn is affecting consumer spending, to what extent the Royal Commission is restraining credit growth, and whether the trade war is restraining export growth.

Noel Whittaker

+ Read Noel's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

No reason to raise or lower. $ is down, property prices are falling and the economy is OK.

Michael Witts

+ Read Michael's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

The economy is unfolding as the RBA has anticipated therefore no action required by the RBA.

Alex Joiner

Alex Joiner

+ Read Alex's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

Inflation data for the third quarter came in slightly weaker than the market expected and decelerated again away from the bottom of the RBA’s target band. This is broadly in line with the Bank’s expectation however underscores that despite good economic growth the inflationary pulse in the economy is weak. In the absence of either a material pick up in wage growth and inflation the RBA simply has no reason to alter its currently policy path.

Alan Oster

+ Read Alan's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

Still waiting to see what happens to wages and the consumer.

Malcolm Wood

Malcolm Wood

+ Read Malcolm's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

While the RBA is bullish on growth, the housing downturn and inflation below target will lead them to leave rates on hold.

Jonathan Chancellor

+ Read Jonathan's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

We are only starting to see serious shocks in the property market. And if it escalates the accompanying uncertainly will trigger a drag on the wider economy too. The RBA will be watching closely. Its prior modelling found increases in uncertainty can trigger a downturn characterised by lower employment growth, weaker retail sales growth, and a fall in consumer confidence.

PeterGilmore

Peter Gilmore

+ Read Peter's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

Although unemployment has fallen, consumer confidence will be shaken by the house price and stock market falls.

Mathew Tiller LJ Hooker

Mathew Tiller

+ Read Mathew's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

There was no discernible change in domestic economic indicators over the past month, ensuring that the RBA will hold the cash rate steady in November. A number of global economic developments may yet have an impact on the outlook for the Australian economy. That’s said, there is little chance of a change in the official cash rate in the short term, especially given the ongoing soft inflation numbers and the slowdown in the housing market; due to higher interest rates and tighter lending restrictions by the banks.

John Caelli

+ Read John's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

The RBA are still looking for further falls in unemployment and higher inflation. Current settings are considered appropriate to support this.

Clement Allan Tisdell

Clement Allan Tisdell

+ Read Clement's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

No major changes in the economy that would warrant a change.These days, this rate is more a signalling device than anything else.

Christine Williams

Christine Williams

+ Read Christine's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

Employment has reduced slightly. Housing pricing has slowed and or reduced slightly from an investor perspective. My opinion due to the impact of stamp duty payable for investor purchases.

Mark Crosby

+ Read Mark's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

The RBA has signalled it will be holding rates steady this year and into early 2019.

Matthew Peter

+ Read Matthew's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

Rising risks to the global economy, the domestic housing downturn and modest underlying inflation mean that the RBA is in no hurry to raise rates. However, a robust economy, strong employment growth and a falling unemployment rate mean that the RBA will not want to postpone normalising the cash rate indefinitely and will pull the trigger on a first rate hike in the second half of 2019.

Geordan Murray

+ Read Geordan's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

Inflationary pressures are still below the target band and there is still excess capacity in the labour market, so rates are likely to be left on hold. It will be interesting to see what the RBA make the latest update to the labour force figures which showed the national unemployment rate dropped to 5.0 per cent, with rates in NSW and Victoria are 4.4 and 4.5 per cent, respectively. Housing credit growth is continuing to slow and home prices in Sydney and Melbourne are easing, it will be interesting to see what the RBA makes of these developments in context of their earlier concerns about the risks posed by these two markets.

Jordan Eliseo

Jordan Eliseo

+ Read Jordan's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

When assessing the economy as a whole, its a mixed scorecard for the RBA. They will be pleased with recent developments in the labour market, though persistently low inflation, and continued falls in the housing market are obvious areas of concern. On balance, there is no immediate case to move rates in either direction, hence the likelihood that they'll remain stuck at 1.5%.

Brian Parker

Brian Parker

+ Read Brian's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

Enough downside risks to the economic outlook and to inflation to keep RBA on hold.

Mark Brimble

+ Read Mark's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

The economy remains delicately poised. With increasing fuel prices and lending rates, credit availability declining and asset prices easing, both sentiment and activity are vulnerable.

Nerida Conisbee

+ Read Nerida's full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

There has been some great economic news lately, particularly that unemployment has hit 5%. While this is the rate at which the RBA believes will kick start wages growth and inflation, this is yet to happen. As such, rates are likely to stay on hold this month.

Nicholas gruen

Nicholas Gruen

+ Read Nicholas' full forecast
October

No change

November

No change

They've telegraphed it for ages.

Check out finder's RBA survey press releases

Pre-announcement RBA Press Releases

Post-announcement RBA Press Releases

What our experts think the next RBA move will be

As of October 2018 87% of the experts in our panel think the next RBA rate move will be an increase. Only four experts (13%) anticipate a rate cut, and most experts think it will be some time yet before the RBA actually makes any move at all.

History of the Reserve Bank of Australia official Cash Rate

The graph above shows the movement in the official cash rate target. A lower cash rate reduces the cost of borrowing money so more people are encouraged to borrow - stimulating the economy. Higher interest rates tend to encourage spending. This is how a rise or fall in rates affects the level of supply and demand and therefore the level of inflation - which the RBA wants to keep in the target range of 2%-3%.

How the cash rate can impact your finances

See how the cash rate changes can affect your savings, term deposits, home loans and what you can do about it.

If the rate rises

Find an account which offers the same features and fees but with a better rate.

If the rate gets cut

Consider comparing a competitive term deposit rate so your interest earnings don't suffer.

If the rate holds

Carry out a quick comparison to make sure you're getting the best return on your money, see what promotions banks are offering.

If the rate rises

Ask your lender for a rate discount so that if rates do rise you won't be worse off, or alternatively, compare other variable or even fixed rate home loans to find a better deal.

If the rate gets cut

See how your lender responds to the cut. If they don't pass on the full rate cut, ask for a rate discount, and if you're still not happy start comparing what other deals are in the market. Some lenders have been known to pass on more than the official rate cut after an RBA announcement!

If the rate holds

Compare other variable rate home loans to make sure you're still getting the best deal. If rates are tipped to rise in the near future you may also want to compare fixed rates.

If the rate rises

Your rate won't rise as you locked it in, so you can relax a little. If your fixed rate is soon to end, start comparing what deals are being offered so you don't find yourself scrambling to lock in another rate.

If the rate gets cut

If you feel your home loan is no longer competitive, you might want to obtain a quote from your lender to find out possible exit costs. If this figure is reasonable, you might want to consider comparing variable home loans. Use our switching costs calculator to see if you'd save.

If the rate holds

Because your rate is fixed for an agreed period of time, a decision by the RBA to hold won't have as much of an effect on you depending on how long you still have to go in your fixed term. As mentioned above, you might still want to monitor the other deals in the market to keep informed.

If the rate rises

If rates rise, savings accounts rates could be increased as well. If this happens, you might want to compare the rates of high interest savings accounts. Remember that most term deposits have interest penalties if you withdraw your funds early, so keep this in mind.

If the rate gets cut

Your rate won't change because it's locked in, but if you're nearing the end of your term start comparing both high interest savings accounts and term deposits to find a good deal.

If the rate holds

Compare accounts and ensure you're aware of what's being offered in the market.

RBA news and announcements

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Privacy & Cookies Policy and Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy.

46 Responses

  1. Default Gravatar
    octoJune 18, 2018

    how long can AUD interest rate remain Low…..?

    how soon will the AUD follow the US FED Rate Hike…….?

    thank you

    Reply
    • finder Customer Care
      NikkiJune 20, 2018Staff

      Hi Octo!

      Thanks for getting in touch!

      To know more information on your questions, you can fill in your email address in the box provided and you’ll be updated on RBA’s decisions on the official cash rate target.

      While we provide you with general information, please know that we don’t stand as a representation for RBA or any company featured on our site.

      Hope that clarifies!

      Cheers,
      Nikki

      Reply
  2. Default Gravatar
    TaneeshaMay 24, 2018

    Do you think the cash rate will stay the same at the June RBA meeting?

    Reply
    • finder Customer Care
      JoshuaMay 24, 2018Staff

      Hi Taneesha,

      Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well for you. :)

      Unfortunately, we are not in the best place to make a prediction. However, you might get an idea whether the RBA cash rate will rise or fall by looking at the factors that affect it. These factors may include:

      – Household debt
      – Inflation
      – Wage growth
      – Consumer Confidence Index
      – Unemployment

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

      Reply
  3. Default Gravatar
    BrookMay 5, 2018

    What do you think that how the international economic condition influence the cash rate?

    Reply
    • finder Customer Care
      JeniMay 6, 2018Staff

      Hi Brook,

      Thank you for getting in touch with finder.

      This is nice question. Domestic financial conditions remain expansionary. There has been some tightening in short-term
      money markets, which has flowed through to a small increase in funding costs for a range of financial institutions and businesses. However, borrowing rates remain low for households and businesses. Growth in housing credit has eased since mid last year, particularly for credit extended to investors, while growth in business debt has remained moderate. The Australian dollar remains within its narrow range of the past two years. Financial market prices suggest that the cash rate is expected to remain unchanged this year and to increase around mid 2019. If you are eager to learn more about the domestic financial condition according to RBA, please check out this link.

      I hope this helps.

      Have a great day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
  4. Default Gravatar
    RobJune 11, 2017

    What do you think will be the next move for RBA on cash rate and when?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Default Gravatar
      JonathanJune 11, 2017

      Hi Rob!

      Thanks for the comment.

      As of the moment, most of resident rate experts predict that rates will be the same. The cash rate target is released on the first Tuesday of every month except January.

      You can follow the updated forecast right here.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

      Reply
    • Default Gravatar
      RobJune 11, 2017

      Thanks Jonathan, I meant in the longer term, 6-12 months.

      Reply
    • Default Gravatar
      JonathanJune 11, 2017

      Hi Rob!

      We appreciate your follow-up.

      Currently, there are multiple factors that need to be considered and due to the volatility of these factors, it is a bit hard to conclude whether they’ll leave the rates unchanged for the next few months or not.

      If you have further inquiries, you may contact:

      Media and Communications
      Secretary’s Department
      Reserve Bank of Australia
      SYDNEY
      Phone: +61 2 9551 9720
      Fax: +61 2 9551 8033
      Email: rbainfo@rba.gov.au

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

      Reply
  5. Default Gravatar
    JulieSeptember 1, 2016

    When do you think the RBA will start raising rates?

    Reply
    • Default Gravatar
      JodieSeptember 7, 2016

      Hi Julie,

      Thank you for contacting finder.com.au we are a financial comparison website and general information service.

      It is hard to predict the movement of the cash rate as it is based on a multitude of factors that are continually changing however 7 out of the 38 experts we surveyed in our latest RBA survey for September 2016 said they predict it will start going up in July 2017 or beyond.

      Regards
      Jodie

      Reply
  6. Default Gravatar
    EricFebruary 25, 2016

    Hi Belinda

    Appreciate if you would also send me informations regarding findings of monthly RBA survey.

    Regards
    Eric

    Reply
    • finder Customer Care
      BelindaFebruary 26, 2016Staff

      Hi Eric,

      Thanks for getting in touch.

      On this page, you can view the RBA Cash Rate Target Announcements for each month from February 2015 until February 2016. You can also view the commentary of our resident rate experts in the lead up to each Board meeting which occurs on the first Tuesday of every month (except January).

      Please feel free to sign up to receive our detailed RBA cash rate updates by completing the form provided above.

      Regards,
      Belinda

      Reply
  7. Default Gravatar
    SyedDecember 8, 2015

    Hi,
    My new house is ready now and wondering what is the best time to sell, should I put my house in the market now or January or wait for the February. I am not committed any where so I can wait.

    Your advise needed.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • finder Customer Care
      BelindaDecember 9, 2015Staff

      Hi Syed,

      Thanks for your enquiry.

      As finder.com.au is an online comparison service so we are not licensed to give you personal advice regarding the best time to sell your property.

      You can read our guide here about considerations when selling your house.

      All the best,
      Belinda

      Reply
  8. Default Gravatar
    loooooolAugust 16, 2015

    hello.
    i wonder if i could receive some information regarding not only the latest current economic situation, but also cash rate movements over the year.

    Reply
    • finder Customer Care
      BelindaAugust 17, 2015Staff

      Hi Dongho,

      Thanks for your enquiry.

      Above on this page you can view the ‘Reserve Bank monthly announcements’ to read about the cash rate movements and monetary policy decisions that have occurred over the course of this year. You can also sign up to receive our RBA cash rate updates by filling in the form provided above.

      In regards to the current economic situation, finder.com.au is an online comparative website and we can’t comment on the activity of the broader Australian economy.

      Thanks,
      Belinda

      Reply
  9. Default Gravatar
    OliJuly 17, 2015

    Can you please send through the information on the RBA via email?
    I’m doing a school Economic assignment on the RBA and financial markets

    Reply
    • finder Customer Care
      BelindaJuly 17, 2015Staff

      Hi Oli,

      Thanks for your enquiry.

      I’ve emailed you with some information regarding the findings from our monthly RBA survey.

      Please note that on this page you can sign up to receive our RBA cash rate updates.

      Thanks,
      Belinda

      Reply
  10. Default Gravatar
    yazminJuly 7, 2015

    Hi,

    I was just wondering if I could have information regarding how interests rates will unfold over the next year. In particular, if the current interest rates will be appropriate for the economic conditions in Australia.

    Thank you
    Yazmin

    Reply
    • finder Customer Care
      BelindaJuly 8, 2015Staff

      Hi Yazmin,

      Thanks for your enquiry.

      Firstly, I’d like to point out that finder.com.au is an online comparison and general information service so we’re not in a position to forecast interest rates.

      However, on this page you can sign up to receive our RBA cash rate updates which you might find useful.

      Thanks,
      Belinda

      Reply
Ask a question
Go to site