National

Australia consumer inflation slows in April, core creeps higher

By Reuters Reuters
Tourists visit Circular Quay on Sydney Harbour as the International Monetary Fund has called out Australia for high inflation and urged the Reserve Bank to take a cautious approach to setting interest rates in its most recent World Economic Outlook update, in Sydney, Australia, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/ Jeremy Piper
Tourists visit Circular Quay on Sydney Harbour as the International Monetary Fund has called out Australia for high inflation and urged the Reserve Bank to take a cautious approach to setting interest rates in its most recent World Economic Outlook update, in Sydney, Australia, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/ Jeremy Piper JEREMY PIPER Reuters

SYDNEY - Australian consumer prices increased by a little less than expected in April thanks mainly to a tax break on fuel, data showed on Wednesday, while core inflation ticked higher, in a sign interest rates might still have to rise further.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed its monthly consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.4% in April, from the previous month, while the annual pace slowed to 4.2%, from 4.6%. Median forecasts had been for a rise of 0.6% in the month and an annual pace of 4.4%.

The trimmed mean measure of core inflation increased by 0.3% in the month, matching forecasts, nudging the annual pace up to 3.4% the highest since late 2024.

(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 9:46 PM.

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