Welcome to the third RBA Rate Release of 2024 with Ben Kingsley and Evan Lucas!  

Here’s a sneak peek into what our hosts cover in today’s episode: 

📺 RBA’s Interest Rate Decision: Find out all about the Reserve Bank of Australia’s cash rate decision, as announced at 2.30pm (AEDT) today! 

📈 Australia’s Inflation Challenges: The Q1 inflation rate is at a stubborn 3.6%, which is above the RBA’s comfort zone of 2-3%. Find out why non-tradables like healthcare and rental housing are giving inflation a nudge, as well as the potential interest rate adjustments in light of the upcoming federal budget. 

🏅 Employment Landscape: While there are mixed trends in US and Australia’s employment situations, Australia shows many positive signs with record-high participation rates and an all-time high in female employment. 

🏠 Property Market Dynamics: Despite expectations, property prices in Australia are on the rise. We’ll explore the ups and downs of the market, driven by high demand in some areas and scarcity in others. Get ready for a deep dive into what’s happening now and what it means for future property investments. 

💰 The Inflation Psychology Story: Ever heard of the “buy now or regret later” mindset? It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy where high prices make people rush to buy, which, in turn, keeps prices high. Ben & Evan discuss this consumer mindset and its effects on inflation. 

Whether you’re a seasoned investor, house hunter, or just curious about economic trends, this episode is a must-listen!  

Welcome to the second RBA Rate Release of 2024!

Once again, our esteemed independent economist Evan Lucas and affable host, Ben Kingsley, reunite to decipher the latest economic trends and data in this month’s episode.

In this instalment, we embark on a journey into the realm of economics – endeavouring to unravel its rich tapestry and better understand its implications. Here’s a glimpse into the topics Ben & Evan will cover:

📈 Sticky Inflation in the US: We delve into inflation and its tenacity within the US economy, exploring its implications for consumers and businesses alike.

📊 Deep Dive into December GDP Quarter Numbers: We take a close look at the recently released GDP quarter numbers for the Australian market, seeking to glean insights into the underlying economic dynamics.

🏦 Bank of Japan’s Interest Rate Decision: Venture with us into the East as we explore the deliberations of the Bank of Japan regarding a potential rate “hike” after over 15 years, and its potential ripple effects on the global economic landscape.

🇦🇺 Australian Economic Outlook and Predictions: We offer our perspectives on the prevailing economic conditions in Australia and the conundrum faced by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) as it navigates through uncertain waters.

💡 Monetary Policy and its Limitations: We discuss the effectiveness of monetary policy as the sole tool for managing inflation, considering interest rate movements only impacts one-third of the Australian population.

Join us as we embark on this quest to demystify the complexities of the economic realm and provide clarity amidst the fog of uncertainty. Now, let’s delve into this month’s update!