Reserve Bank of Australia Raises Cash Rate to 4.60%

monetary_currency_policy2026-09-29 08:50:13 UTCimp 0.84CHC.AX -0.33MGR.AX -0.32DXS.AX -0.30

On September 29, 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia raised its cash-rate target by 25 basis points to 4.60%. The Board cited elevated inflation, materialising upside inflation risks, stronger-than-expected recent inflation outcomes and higher global energy prices. It said further increases could be made if needed to return inflation sustainably to target.

Occurred 2026-09-29 04:30:00 UTCSurprise 0.30Confidence 0.98

Rationale

This is a new, atomic and forward-looking monetary-policy decision: the Reserve Bank of Australia explicitly raised its cash-rate target by 25 basis points to 4.60%. The decision can affect Australian rates, credit conditions, demand, property valuations and the Australian dollar, while the Board’s statement that it could raise rates further preserves forward policy significance. The move was broadly expected based on the prior forecast, so surprise is limited despite the hawkish justification. The September 29 date and contemporaneous 04:30 UTC release support the occurrence timestamp, although the exact decision time is inferred from the release time. The development is a distinct realized milestone rather than a duplicate of the earlier rate-hike forecast and continues the RBA monetary-policy storyline in event 998. Stakeholders are limited to Australian property, banking, infrastructure and discretionary-retail companies with clear rate-transmission channels; weaker, more indirect FX or travel exposures are excluded.

EventsRBA Monetary Policy and Australian Labor Market Lifecycle 2026

Evidence

TEXT-Australia central bank September statement on rates

reuters2026-09-29 04:30:04 UTCOpen source

At its meeting today, the Board decided to increase the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.60 per cent.

Inflation remains elevated and some of the upside risks flagged in August are materialising.

The conflict in the Middle East has broadened and global energy prices are now much higher than had been assumed in the August forecasts.

And recent inflation outcomes in Australia were stronger than expected at the previous meeting.

financial_juice2026-09-29 04:31:24 UTCOpen source

RBA: board will continue necessary measures to bring inflation sustainably back to target, including raising cash rate further if needed|FJ

first_squawk2026-09-29 05:18:18 UTCOpen source

RBA hikes rates for fourth time amid renewed inflation concerns, WSJ says

Australian shares end higher after RBA lifts rates to 15-year high

reuters2026-09-29 07:13:25 UTCOpen source

The Reserve Bank of Australia board voted unanimously to lift the cash rate by 25 basis points to a 15-year high of 4.60%, its fourth increase this year.

RBA Governor Michele Bullock said the board did consider keeping interest rates steady this time

Treasurer Chalmers Faces Backlash Over Deficit Claims Amid Rate Hike

2026-09-29 05:08:35 UTCOpen source

On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank hiked rates to 4.6%, a 15-year high, adding about $100 monthly per $100,000 borrowed to mortgage costs