Statement by the Governor, Mr Ian Macfarlane: Monetary Policy - August 2000 | Media Releases | RBA
Central bank: rba | Type: statement | Date: 2000-08-02

Media Release
Statement by the Governor, Mr Ian Macfarlane: Monetary Policy
2 August 2000
Following a decision made by the Board at its meeting yesterday, the Bank will be
operating in the money market this morning to raise the cash rate by 25 basis
points, to 6.25 per cent.
In reaching its decision the Board considered a range of factors bearing on the outlook
for the Australian economy and for inflation in particular.
Over the past twelve months economic growth and inflation have been higher than forecast.
The broadest economy-wide measures of activity – GDP and employment
growth – point to an economy that continues to perform strongly. Although
growth in some areas of domestic demand, e.g. housing, is falling, the value
of exports has risen by 28 per cent during the past year and the robust
world economy will assist further growth. The value of imports has also
risen strongly over the past year (21 per cent) reflecting trends in domestic
Measures of underlying inflation are now around 2½ per cent. This is within
the target band but the trend has been upwards for a year or so and some
further upward drift is likely to occur. Producer price indexes suggest
increased upstream inflationary pressure. Excluding the direct effects of
oil prices, output prices of the manufacturing sector rose by over 4½
per cent in the year to June, their fastest rate of increase for about a
The rise in the Consumer Price Index of 3.2 per cent over the year to the June quarter
was affected by higher international oil prices. Australia's flexible inflation
targeting regime accepts temporary deviations of this nature.
The rise in inflation has occurred despite a fairly benign trend in labour costs
to date. The various indicators of wages are now showing disparate movements,
complicating interpretation. The Board's view remains that wages growth
is moderate, but that labour costs are likely to pick up in the year ahead
in response to economic conditions, including higher price inflation (and
the increase in the Superannuation Guarantee Charge).
In assessing the impact of earlier changes in interest rates, the Board noted that
the pace of credit expansion had risen in recent months. Credit outstanding
grew by 13 per cent over the year to June, and at a rate of 15 per cent
in the most recent six months. Credit to the household sector has continued
to expand more rapidly, notwithstanding the recent increases in interest
Published inflation statistics will be difficult to interpret in the period ahead
because the CPI and the various underlying series will be influenced by the
recently implemented changes to the tax system. The Board's intention is
to abstract from the price-level effect of the tax changes and to seek to
ensure that ongoing inflation remains consistent with the target once the
tax changes have been absorbed. Taking into account the developments outlined
above, the assessment was that the balance of risks had, in recent months,
tilted somewhat further towards higher inflation. The Board therefore judged
that a further tightening of monetary policy was warranted in seeking to
limit the extent of such risks.
The Board is conscious that the stance of monetary policy must contribute to achieving
the medium-term inflation goal, but do so in a way that does not unnecessarily
restrict economic activity. In making this decision, the Board was of the
view that the level of real interest rates and of the real exchange rate
would be supportive of sustainable growth in the economy. As has been the
case with the earlier policy moves, the latest move aims to promote a continuation
of sustainable growth by ensuring that inflation pressures remain contained.
Mr G.R. Stevens
Assistant Governor (Economic)
SYDNEY (02) 9551 8800
Mr R. Battellino
Assistant Governor (Financial Markets)
SYDNEY (02) 9551 8200