Australia’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 4.0% in August 2026 from 3.5% in July, slightly below market expectations of 4.1%, marking the highest rate in three months. The reading also moved further above the central bank’s 2-3% target range. Housing inflation rose to 5.7% from 5.0% in July, while transport inflation accelerated to 5.6% from 1.6%, driven by higher automotive fuel prices and the unwinding of the remaining federal government fuel excise relief measures in August. Meanwhile, food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation eased to 3.0% from 3.2%, while clothing and footwear inflation stood at 2.6%. The trimmed mean CPI was unchanged at 3.6% year-on-year, remaining at its highest level since September 2024 and in line with forecasts, while the weighted median also held at 3.6%. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.4%, below expectations of a 0.5% gain and slowing from a 1.0% increase in July. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Inflation Rate in Australia increased to 4 percent in August from 3.50 percent in July of 2026. Inflation Rate in Australia averaged 3.46 percent from 2025 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 4.60 percent in March of 2026 and a record low of 1.90 percent in June of 2025. This page provides the latest reported value for - Australia Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Australia Inflation Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on October of 2026.

Inflation Rate in Australia increased to 4 percent in August from 3.50 percent in July of 2026. Inflation Rate in Australia is expected to be 3.90 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Australia Inflation Rate is projected to trend around 2.40 percent in 2027 and 2.20 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-08-26 01:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Jul 3.5% 3.8% 3.3% 3.2%
2026-09-30 01:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Aug 4.0% 3.5% 4.1% 4.0%
2026-10-28 12:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Sep 4.0% 3.9%



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Food Inflation 3.00 3.20 percent Aug 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
CPI 103.50 103.07 points Aug 2026
Core Consumer Prices 108.14 107.88 points Aug 2026
RBA Trimmed Mean CPI YoY 3.60 3.60 percent Aug 2026
CPI Clothing and Footwear 103.24 104.15 points Aug 2026
CPI Education 104.66 104.60 points Aug 2026
CPI Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages 103.25 103.34 points Aug 2026
CPI Health 103.98 103.84 points Aug 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 104.88 104.71 points Aug 2026
CPI Recreation and Culture 100.67 101.67 points Aug 2026
CPI Transportation 105.52 101.24 points Aug 2026
Export Prices 160.30 158.60 points Jun 2026
GDP Deflator 106.20 105.80 points Jun 2026
Import Prices 143.20 135.50 points Jun 2026
Inflation Rate YoY 4.00 3.50 percent Aug 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.40 1.00 percent Aug 2026
Melbourne Quarterly CPI 101.96 101.79 points Jun 2026
Producer Prices 140.00 138.20 points Jun 2026
PPI YoY 3.60 3.00 percent Jun 2026
Quarterly CPI 102.31 101.70 points Jun 2026
Quarterly Inflation Rate QoQ 0.60 1.40 percent Jun 2026
Quarterly Inflation Rate YoY 3.90 4.10 percent Jun 2026
RBA Trimmed Mean CPI MoM 0.20 0.50 percent Aug 2026
RBA Trimmed Mean CPI QoQ 0.80 0.80 percent Jun 2026
Quarterly RBA Trimmed Mean CPI YoY 3.60 3.50 percent Jun 2026
RBA Weighted Median CPI 0.30 0.40 percent Aug 2026
RBA Weighted Median CPI YoY 3.60 3.60 percent Aug 2026


Australia Inflation Rate
In Australia, the most important categories in the consumer price index are housing (23 percent of the total weight), food and non–alcoholic beverages (17 percent), transport (11 percent), furnishings, household equipment and services (9 percent), alcohol and tobacco (9 percent), recreation and culture (9 percent), health (7 percent) and insurance and financial services (6 percent). Clothing and footwear, education and communication account for remaining 10 percent of total weight.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
4.00 3.50 4.60 1.90 2025 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Australia Inflation Rate Picks Up to 4%
Australia’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 4.0% in August 2026 from 3.5% in July, slightly below market expectations of 4.1%, marking the highest rate in three months. The reading also moved further above the central bank’s 2-3% target range. Housing inflation rose to 5.7% from 5.0% in July, while transport inflation accelerated to 5.6% from 1.6%, driven by higher automotive fuel prices and the unwinding of the remaining federal government fuel excise relief measures in August. Meanwhile, food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation eased to 3.0% from 3.2%, while clothing and footwear inflation stood at 2.6%. The trimmed mean CPI was unchanged at 3.6% year-on-year, remaining at its highest level since September 2024 and in line with forecasts, while the weighted median also held at 3.6%. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.4%, below expectations of a 0.5% gain and slowing from a 1.0% increase in July.
2026-09-30
Australia Inflation Rate Tops Forecasts
The annual inflation rate in Australia slowed to 3.5% in July 2026 from 3.8% in June, but remained above both expectations of 3.3% and the central bank's 2–3% target range. It was the softest increase since November 2025, as goods inflation moderated to an eleven-month low of 3.2%, while services inflation also eased to 3.7% from 4.0%. Housing inflation eased to an 11-month low of 5.0% (vs 6.8% in June), with electricity prices rising the least in four months. Inflation also eased for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.2% vs 3.3%). Meanwhile, inflation accelerated for transport (1.6% vs 0.1%), while furnishing inflation remained steady at 1.6%. The trimmed mean CPI stood at 3.6% yoy, still the highest since September 2024 and above expectations of 3.5%, while the weighted median CPI rose 3.6%, after a 3.7% rise in June. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 1.0%, marking the first monthly increase and the fastest pace in four months, surpassing expectations of a 0.8% rise.
2026-08-26
Australia Inflation Eases, Underlying Risks Persist: RBA Hunter
Australia’s Q2 CPI reading came in “a touch softer” than expected, according to Reserve Bank of Australia Assistant Governor Sarah Hunter. She said headline inflation has continued to ease, although underlying price pressures, particularly from housing and services, remain persistent. Wednesday’s releases showed the country’s annual inflation eased to 3.9% in Q2 from a two-year high of 4.1% in Q1, though it remained well above the central bank’s 2–3% target band. Meanwhile, June CPI fell to a four-month low of 3.8%, driven largely by weaker goods inflation. Hunter also noted that the labour market is still tight, supporting elevated wage growth, and reiterated that monetary policy is primarily designed to manage demand rather than supply-driven costs such as energy or housing.
2026-07-30