Surprise mortgage pain for millions of Australians as the Reserve Bank HIKES rates by 25 basis points – despite the financial market’s predictions Philip Lowe would pause the cash rate
- Reserve Bank has raised interest rates by 25 basis points
- Cash rate has risen to a new 11-year high of 3.85 per cent
The Reserve Bank of Australia has surprised the experts by raising interest rates by 0.25 percentage points, taking the cash rate to an 11-year high of 3.85 per cent.
The latest increase after April’s pause marks the 11th rate rise during the past year, flying in the face of the financial markets which had almost unanimously predicted rate rises would remain on hold.
While inflation moderated to 7 per cent in March, from December’s 32-year high of 7.8 per cent, RBA Governor Philip Lowe said it was too high, being well above the 2 to 3 per cent target.
‘Inflation in Australia has passed its peak, but at 7 per cent is still too high and it will be some time yet before it is back in the target range,’ he said.
The latest increase means a borrower with an average $600,000 mortgage will see their monthly repayments rise by $95 to $3,555, up from $3,460.
That’s based on a Commonwealth Bank variable rate rising by 25 basis points to 5.89 per cent.
The Commonwealth Bank, Australia’s biggest home lender, had correctly predicted an increase, saying this would be the last in this rate rise cycle.
But Westpac, NAB and ANZ had forecast a pause.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has surprised the experts by raising interest rates by 0.25 percentage points, taking the cash rate to 3.85 per cent
