Today's statement by Glenn Stevens, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), was largely a carbon copy of his previous statement from February apart from a few minor cosmetic changes, such as his description of the Australian dollar and to the forward guidance.
Stevens said today that the exchange rate "has been adjusting to the evolving economic outlook," whereas on Feb. 1 he said that the exchange rate "has continued its adjustment to the evolving economic outlook."
In his guidance, Stevens today said low inflation "would" provide scope for easier policy compared with his previous statement when he said low inflation "may" provide scope for easier policy, a shift that economists interpreted as signaling a slightly stronger easing bias.
The RBA, which cut its rate by 50 basis points in 2015, repeated that under the current economic conditions its monetary policy stance should remain accommodative, with low interest rates helping support demand while regulatory measures were containing risks in the housing market.
"At today's meeting, the Board judged that there were reasonable prospects for continued growth in the economy, with inflation close to target," Steven said, adding that the expansion of the non-mining part of the country's economy strengthened last year and this showed up in an improved labor market.
Australia's inflation rate is still seen remaining low over the next year or two, Stevens said. Australia's inflation rate rose slightly to 1.7 percent in the fourth quarter of last year from 1.5 percent in the previous quarter, below the RBA's target of 2-3 percent.
Its Gross Domestic Product expanded by 0.9 percent in the third quarter of 2015 from the second quarter for annual growth of 2.5 percent, up from 1.9 percent.
The unemployment rate rose to a higher-than-expected 6.0 percent in January from 5.8 percent in December, to the highest rate seen since September last year.
The Australian dollar started depreciating against the U.S. dollar in September 2014 and lost 11 percent in 2015. But since mid-January, the dollar - known as the Aussie - has firmed and was trading at 1.40 to the U.S. dollar today, down 2 percent since the start of this year but up from an exchange rate of almost 1.46 on Jan. 17.
The Reserve Bank of Australia issued the following statement by its governor, Glenn Stevens:
"At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 2.0 per cent.
Recent information suggests that the global economy is continuing to grow, though at a slightly lower pace than earlier expected. While several advanced economies have recorded improved growth over the past year, conditions have become more difficult for a number of emerging market economies. China's growth rate has continued to moderate.
Commodity prices have declined very substantially over the past couple of years. This partly reflects slower growth in demand but also, in some key instances, large increases in supply. The decline in Australia's terms of trade has continued.
Financial markets have once again exhibited heightened volatility over recent months, as participants grapple with uncertainty about the global economic outlook and policy settings among the major jurisdictions. Appetite for risk has diminished somewhat and funding conditions for emerging market sovereigns and lesser-rated corporates have tightened. But funding costs for high-quality borrowers remain very low and, globally, monetary policy remains remarkably accommodative.
In Australia, the available information suggests that the expansion in the non-mining parts of the economy strengthened during 2015 despite the contraction in spending in mining investment. This was reflected in improved labour market conditions. The pace of lending to businesses also picked up.
Inflation is quite low. With growth in labour costs continuing to be quite subdued as well, and inflation restrained elsewhere in the world, inflation is likely to remain low over the next year or two.
Given these conditions, it is appropriate for monetary policy to be accommodative. Low interest rates are supporting demand, while supervisory measures are working to emphasise prudent lending standards and so to contain risks in the housing market. Credit growth to households continues at a moderate pace, albeit with a changed composition between investors and owner-occupiers. The pace of growth in dwelling prices has moderated in Melbourne and Sydney and has remained mostly subdued in other cities. The exchange rate has been adjusting to the evolving economic outlook.
At today's meeting, the Board judged that there were reasonable prospects for continued growth in the economy, with inflation close to target. The Board therefore decided that the current setting of monetary policy remained appropriate.
Over the period ahead, new information should allow the Board to judge whether the improvement in labour market conditions is continuing and whether the recent financial turbulence portends weaker global and domestic demand. Continued low inflation would provide scope for easier policy, should that be appropriate to lend support to demand."
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