Reserve Bank of Australia Archives · Australian Loans Group

RBA Reviewing Card Fees

Posted on 26/02/202617/02/2026 by Laze Spasevski

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is reviewing card fees – and many businesses don’t realise how much they’re leaking. The RBA’s Payments System Board is progressing its review of merchant card payment costs and surcharging, including whether interchange caps should be reduced and how commercial cards are treated. One concern is that without further action, any fee reductions may not f...
Read More

RBA Cautiously Optimistic on Inflation

Posted on 18/09/202515/09/2025 by Laze Spasevski

Why the RBA is cautiously optimistic on inflation comes down to recent data showing Australia’s cost-of-living pressures have eased further, with inflation continuing to cool. This gives the central bank reason to be hopeful, while still remaining careful in its outlook. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported headline inflation at 2.1% in annual terms – the lowest rate since 2021 and ...
Read More

Rate Cut Increased Borrowing Power

Posted on 17/09/202515/09/2025 by Laze Spasevski

The decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut the cash rate earlier this month means the average person's borrowing power has increased. Not only that, it has also lowered the repayments of most borrowers. With rates now lower, lenders are starting to adjust their serviceability buffers. That shift means borrowers can show they can afford more on paper, effectively lifting their borr...
Read More

Inflation Rate Continues to Ease

Posted on 02/09/202511/08/2025 by Laze Spasevski

Australia’s inflation rate continues to ease, with both headline and core measures now sitting comfortably within the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) 2-3% target range. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, annualised inflation in May was 2.1% – down from 2.4% in April and 4.0% a year earlier. This was the tenth consecutive month that headline inflation had remained inside the...
Read More

How to Approach Rate Cuts

Posted on 28/08/202508/08/2025 by Laze Spasevski

Some lenders have already started trimming their home loan rates and homeowners want to know how to approach these rate cuts in order to take advantage of lower rates without compromising loan flexibility. That’s because not all lenders are moving in sync. Some are dropping rates early to stay competitive and attract new customers – which means loans that once had very sharp rates may no lo...
Read More

RBA Believes Local Economy is Softening

Posted on 19/08/202508/08/2025 by Laze Spasevski

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) believes the local economy is softening, although domestic conditions have generally evolved in line with expectations. The RBA noted during its latest monetary policy meeting, on 19-20 May, that GDP growth had picked up in late 2024. However, early 2025 data showed household consumption was weaker than expected. “Earlier declines in real household dispos...
Read More

Borrowers Embrace Refinancing

Posted on 10/06/202503/06/2025 by Laze Spasevski

Market commentators are expecting a big jump in refinancing activity in the coming weeks, given that numerous borrowers embrace refinancing their home loans earlier in the year following the previous cash rate cut, in February, by the Reserve Bank of Australia. Equifax, a credit reporting agency, has reported that the number of mortgage applications in the first quarter of 2025 was 5.2% hig...
Read More

Lenders Cut Interest Rates

Posted on 03/06/202503/06/2025 by Laze Spasevski

More than 65 lenders, including the big four banks, have cut their interest rates following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to reduce the cash rate from 4.10% to 3.85%. This will mean lower repayments for the typical variable-rate borrower – although the size of the rate cuts, and the dates at which they’re taking effect, is varying from lender to lender. Here are three tips...
Read More

Businesses Remain Profitable Despite Pressures

Posted on 22/05/202507/05/2025 by Laze Spasevski

“Most businesses remain profitable, despite the ongoing pressures,” the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has reported in its latest Financial Stability Review. "Most large and small businesses’ profit margins are around the level recorded over the 2010s. However, our measure for small businesses is only available up to the September quarter of 2024. Additionally, the surveys suggest these bu...
Read More

RBA Reveals Positive Mortgage Data

Posted on 06/05/202524/04/2025 by Laze Spasevski

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) reveals that “there is positive mortgage data for a vast majority of borrowers. That means, borrowers would remain able to service their debt under a range of plausible economic scenarios”, according to the central bank's latest Financial Stability Review. Crucially, about 97% of borrowers have positive cash flow, which means they’re able to meet their mo...
Read More