Overview

• Governor Michele Bullock appears before the federal parliament’s economics committee on Monday to discuss interest rates, productivity and card payment surcharges.
• The RBA resumed easing in February, and with a decision due at month’s end, markets broadly anticipate the next reduction at the November meeting.
• Underlying inflation sits near 2.7%, with economists tipping an August trimmed-mean reading around 2.5%–2.6% on Wednesday, a move viewed as too modest to trigger a cut now.
• AMP’s Shane Oliver says a trimmed-mean reading closer to about 2.4% would likely be needed to justify a September cut.
• August labour data showed a 5,400 drop in jobs with unemployment steady at 4.2%, as the Productivity Commission reported a June‑quarter improvement but flagged weak investment as a drag on living standards.