Australian Q4 2024 inflation headline 2.4% y/y (expected 2.5%)

Inflation data from Australia for the October- December quarter and for December month, 2024.

Headline inflation numbers come in lower than expected.

+2.4% y/y

• expected 2.5%, prior 2.8%

+0.2% q/q

• expected 0.3%, prior 0.2%

Trimmed mean (a measure of core, or underlying inflation)

3.2% y/y

• expected 3.3%, prior 3.5%

0.5% q/q

• expected 0.6%, prior 0.8%

The weighted median, also a core measure:

3.5% y/y

• expected 3.5%, prior 3.8%

The trimmed mean is a focus, and at 0.5% this under where the Reserve Bank of Australia was expecting it.

The Australian dollar has been marked lower as, at the margin, these numbers boost the chance of an RBA February rate cut.

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Background info to this is here:

• Australian inflation data due soon – RBA rate cut speculation for February meeting
• Critical Australian inflation data – likely to tick the RBA rate cut box?

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.