Australia: economic indicators
RBA cash rate target was 4.36% in September 2026, up 0.76 pp from September 2025 (RBA). Consumer price inflation was 3.94% in Q2 2026, below its five-year average of 4.37% (ABS). Every Australia series on the site is listed below by theme, with its latest reading and change on a year earlier.
Key takeaways
- The unemployment rate stood at 4.72% in September 2026, against a five-year low of 3.43% (October 2022) and a high of 5.23% (October 2021) (ABS).
- Ten-year government bond yields were above shorter yields by 0.36 pp in September 2026, so the yield curve was upward sloping (RBA).
- Real GDP grew by 0.40% in Q2 2026 on the previous quarter (ABS).
What the latest data says
Australian data on this page comes from the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Credit has the most detail, with housing lending split between owner-occupiers and investors, while consumer prices arrive quarterly rather than monthly.
- Loans to investors were A$866.3 bn of the A$2,628.5 bn in housing credit outstanding in August 2026, a share of 33.0% against 32.3% a year earlier; the rest is lending to owner-occupiers (RBA).
Biggest moves in the latest readings
- CPI change from the previous quarter: down 0.80 pp to 0.60% in Q2 2026, a move of 40% of its five-year range.
- Australian Government 2-year bond yield: up 0.35 pp to 4.92% in September 2026, a move of 7% of its five-year range.
- Australian Government 10-year bond yield: up 0.27 pp to 5.28% in September 2026, a move of 7% of its five-year range.
- Housing credit growth, 12 months: down 0.20 pp to 7.30% in August 2026, a move of 5% of its five-year range.
- Australian Government 10-year minus 2-year yield spread: down 0.08 pp to 0.36 pp in September 2026, a move of 5% of its five-year range.
Policy rates
The Reserve Bank of Australia sets a target for the cash rate, the rate on unsecured overnight loans between banks. The series here is the target averaged over each month.
| Indicator | Latest | Period | Change on a year earlier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBA cash rate target | 4.36% | September 2026 | +0.76 pp | RBA |
Bond yields and markets
Australian Government bond yields come from the RBA's statistical tables. The two-year yield tracks expectations for the cash rate; the ten-year yield is also shaped by global bond markets, especially US Treasuries.
| Indicator | Latest | Period | Change on a year earlier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Government 10-year bond yield | 5.28% | September 2026 | +0.99 pp | RBA |
| Australian Government 10-year minus 2-year yield spread | 0.36 pp | September 2026 | -0.54 pp | RBA |
| Australian Government 2-year bond yield | 4.92% | September 2026 | +1.52 pp | RBA |
Inflation
The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes the consumer price index used here each quarter, so Australian inflation is a quarter behind the monthly figures of the other three countries. The RBA targets inflation of 2% to 3%.
| Indicator | Latest | Period | Change on a year earlier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer price index, all groups | 102.3 | Q2 2026 | +3.9% | ABS |
| CPI change from the previous quarter | 0.60% | Q2 2026 | -0.10 pp | ABS |
| CPI inflation, change from a year earlier | 3.94% | Q2 2026 | +1.85 pp | ABS |
Credit and lending
Credit aggregates from the RBA split lending into housing, other personal and business credit, and housing credit into owner-occupiers and investors. Three older series ended in June 2019; the series that continue them are listed next to them.
| Indicator | Latest | Period | Change on a year earlier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business credit (series ended June 2019) (ended) | A$960.0 bn | June 2019 | +4.3% | RBA |
| Business credit growth, 12 months (series ended June 2019) (ended) | 4.00% | June 2019 | +0.90 pp | RBA |
| Housing credit | A$2,628.5 bn | August 2026 | +6.8% | RBA |
| Housing credit growth, 12 months | 7.30% | August 2026 | +1.20 pp | RBA |
| Investor housing credit | A$866.3 bn | August 2026 | +8.9% | RBA |
| Non-financial business credit | A$1,452.1 bn | August 2026 | +10.6% | RBA |
| Non-financial business credit growth, 12 months | 10.90% | August 2026 | +1.10 pp | RBA |
| Owner-occupier housing credit | A$1,762.2 bn | August 2026 | +5.7% | RBA |
| Total credit (series ended June 2019) (ended) | A$2,938.6 bn | June 2019 | +3.5% | RBA |
| Total credit excluding financial businesses | A$4,250.7 bn | August 2026 | +8.1% | RBA |
Activity and labor
Real GDP and its quarterly growth come from the ABS national accounts, and the unemployment rate from its monthly labour force release.
| Indicator | Latest | Period | Change on a year earlier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP | A$699.5 bn | Q2 2026 | +2.1% | ABS |
| Real GDP growth (quarter on quarter) | 0.40% | Q2 2026 | -0.40 pp | ABS |
| Unemployment rate | 4.72% | September 2026 | +0.29 pp | ABS |
Questions
What is the policy rate in Australia?
RBA cash rate target was 4.36% in September 2026, according to Reserve Bank of Australia.
What is the inflation rate in Australia?
Consumer prices were 3.94% higher in Q2 2026 than a year earlier, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics.
What is the unemployment rate?
4.72% in September 2026. Unemployment rate, persons, 15 years and over, seasonally adjusted.
Which indicator moved most in the latest data?
CPI change from the previous quarter, down 0.80 pp to 0.60% in Q2 2026, the largest move against its own five-year range.
How often is this page updated?
Each Australia series here is reloaded from RBA and ABS when the publisher releases new data: 15 monthly series after each monthly release and 5 quarterly series after each quarterly release. The newest reading here is for September 2026.