Australian inflation is 4.0%
Consumer prices rose 4.0% in the 12 months to August 2026, up from 3.5% in July 2026. That's above the Reserve Bank's 2 to 3% target. Trimmed mean inflation, the underlying measure the RBA watches most closely, was 3.6%.
- Annual inflation, Aug 2026
- 4.0%
- up 0.5 pts on July; prices rose 0.4% in the month
- Trimmed mean
- 3.6%
- Unchanged The RBA's underlying measure, seasonally adjusted
- Wages, Jun qtr 2026
- 3.2%
- Unchanged Wage Price Index, annual change
- Unemployment, Sep 2026
- 4.7%
- up 0.1 pts ABS Labour Force, seasonally adjusted
- Next CPI
- 28 Oct 2026
- September 2026 figures, 11.30 am Canberra time
Above the RBA's band every month since August 2025
ABS monthly CPI, released 30 Sept 2026
Show the figures
| Month | CPI, annual | Trimmed mean | Prices in the month |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 4.0% | 3.6% | +0.4% |
| July 2026 | 3.5% | 3.6% | +1.0% |
| June 2026 | 3.8% | 3.6% | -0.1% |
| May 2026 | 4.0% | 3.5% | -0.7% |
| April 2026 | 4.2% | 3.4% | +0.4% |
| March 2026 | 4.6% | 3.3% | +1.1% |
| February 2026 | 3.7% | 3.3% | 0.0% |
| January 2026 | 3.8% | 3.3% | +0.4% |
| December 2025 | 3.8% | 3.3% | +1.0% |
| November 2025 | 3.4% | 3.2% | 0.0% |
| October 2025 | 3.8% | 3.3% | 0.0% |
| September 2025 | 3.6% | 3.2% | +0.5% |
| August 2025 | 3.2% | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| July 2025 | 3.0% | 3.1% | +1.3% |
| June 2025 | 1.9% | 2.8% | +0.1% |
| May 2025 | 2.1% | 3.0% | -0.5% |
| April 2025 | 2.4% | 3.2% | +0.7% |
The ABS's complete monthly CPI replaced the quarterly figure as the headline measure in November 2025. Over the 17 months shown, annual inflation peaked at 4.6% in March 2026.
Hobart highest at 4.8%, Melbourne lowest at 3.5%
Annual change in each capital's CPI to August 2026, and how it moved on the month before. Each city's index follows its own prices, so the rates compare but the index levels don't.
Annual inflation in each capital, August 2026
Against the national figure and the RBA's target
- Hobart+0.3 points on July4.8%
- Adelaide+0.3 points on July4.7%
- Darwin+0.8 points on July4.5%
- Perth+0.5 points on July4.3%
- Brisbane+0.4 points on July4.1%
- Canberra+0.9 points on July4.1%
- Sydney+0.7 points on July3.9%
- Melbourne+0.3 points on July3.5%
Each city, month by month
| Month | Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide | Perth | Hobart | Darwin | Canberra | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | 3.9% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 4.7% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 4.5% | 4.1% | 4.0% |
| Jul 2026 | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 3.8% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.2% | 3.5% |
| Jun 2026 | 4.0% | 3.2% | 4.0% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.8% |
| May 2026 | 4.2% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.0% | 5.0% | 3.9% | 4.1% | 4.0% |
| Apr 2026 | 4.2% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 3.9% | 5.0% | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 3.8% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 4.9% | 4.0% | 3.2% | 3.5% | 3.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 3.9% | 3.3% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 4.9% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 3.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 3.7% | 3.1% | 5.2% | 3.3% | 4.4% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 3.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 3.4% | 3.0% | 5.1% | 3.3% | 2.8% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| Oct 2025 | 3.6% | 3.3% | 5.2% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.8% |
| Sep 2025 | 3.4% | 2.7% | 5.2% | 3.0% | 5.0% | 4.8% | 2.9% | 3.0% | 3.6% |
| Aug 2025 | 2.7% | 2.5% | 4.7% | 2.6% | 4.8% | 4.4% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 3.2% |
| Jul 2025 | 2.9% | 2.3% | 4.8% | 1.7% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 3.0% |
| Jun 2025 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 1.9% |
| May 2025 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.7% | 1.7% | 2.6% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 2.1% |
| Apr 2025 | 2.1% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2.0% | 3.2% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 1.9% | 2.4% |
Housing added the most: 1.2 of the 4.0 points
Each group's annual price change to August 2026, and how many percentage points it added to the headline rate. A big part of the household budget rising modestly can add more than a small one rising fast.
Points each spending group added to annual inflation
August 2026
- HousingPrices up 5.7% over the year1.24 points
- TransportPrices up 5.6% over the year0.64 points
- Food and non-alcoholic beveragesPrices up 3.0% over the year0.52 points
- Recreation and culturePrices up 2.9% over the year0.36 points
- Alcohol and tobaccoPrices up 4.8% over the year0.32 points
- HealthPrices up 3.9% over the year0.27 points
- EducationPrices up 4.7% over the year0.22 points
- Insurance and financial servicesPrices up 3.5% over the year0.19 points
- Clothing and footwearPrices up 2.6% over the year0.09 points
- Furnishings, household equipment and servicesPrices up 1.0% over the year0.08 points
- CommunicationPrices up 1.6% over the year0.03 points
Real wages fell 0.7% in the year to the June quarter 2026
Pay rates, measured by the Wage Price Index, against consumer prices over the same year. Real wages have fallen for 3 quarters in a row.
- Wages (WPI)
- 3.2%
- Annual change, June quarter 2026, seasonally adjusted
- Prices (CPI)
- 3.9%
- Quarterly CPI on the June quarter a year earlier
- Real wages
- -0.7%
- Wages deflated by prices
- Full-time earnings
- $2,083.70
- A week, ordinary time, May 2026, +3.7% on a year
Wages against prices since the March quarter 2015
Annual change, by quarter
Wages deflated by prices, each quarter on the same quarter a year earlier. Above the line, pay rose faster than prices; below it, prices won.
Show the figures
| Quarter | Wages | Prices | Real wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun qtr 2026 | 3.2% | 3.9% | -0.7% |
| Mar qtr 2026 | 3.2% | 4.1% | -0.9% |
| Dec qtr 2025 | 3.4% | 3.6% | -0.2% |
| Sep qtr 2025 | 3.3% | 3.2% | +0.1% |
| Jun qtr 2025 | 3.4% | 2.1% | +1.3% |
| Mar qtr 2025 | 3.5% | 2.4% | +1.1% |
| Dec qtr 2024 | 3.2% | 2.4% | +0.8% |
| Sep qtr 2024 | 3.6% | 2.9% | +0.7% |
| Jun qtr 2024 | 4.1% | 3.8% | +0.3% |
| Mar qtr 2024 | 4.0% | 3.6% | +0.4% |
| Dec qtr 2023 | 4.3% | 4.0% | +0.2% |
| Sep qtr 2023 | 4.0% | 5.3% | -1.2% |
| Jun qtr 2023 | 3.7% | 6.0% | -2.2% |
| Mar qtr 2023 | 3.7% | 7.0% | -3.1% |
| Dec qtr 2022 | 3.3% | 7.9% | -4.2% |
| Sep qtr 2022 | 3.1% | 7.3% | -3.9% |
| Jun qtr 2022 | 2.6% | 6.2% | -3.4% |
| Mar qtr 2022 | 2.4% | 5.1% | -2.6% |
| Dec qtr 2021 | 2.4% | 3.5% | -1.0% |
| Sep qtr 2021 | 2.2% | 3.1% | -0.9% |
| Jun qtr 2021 | 1.8% | 3.8% | -1.9% |
| Mar qtr 2021 | 1.5% | 1.1% | +0.4% |
| Dec qtr 2020 | 1.3% | 0.9% | +0.4% |
| Sep qtr 2020 | 1.4% | 0.7% | +0.8% |
| Jun qtr 2020 | 1.8% | -0.3% | +2.1% |
| Mar qtr 2020 | 2.2% | 2.2% | -0.0% |
| Dec qtr 2019 | 2.2% | 1.8% | +0.3% |
| Sep qtr 2019 | 2.2% | 1.7% | +0.5% |
| Jun qtr 2019 | 2.3% | 1.5% | +0.8% |
| Mar qtr 2019 | 2.3% | 1.3% | +1.0% |
| Dec qtr 2018 | 2.3% | 1.8% | +0.5% |
| Sep qtr 2018 | 2.3% | 1.9% | +0.4% |
| Jun qtr 2018 | 2.1% | 2.1% | +0.0% |
| Mar qtr 2018 | 2.0% | 1.9% | +0.1% |
| Dec qtr 2017 | 2.1% | 1.9% | +0.1% |
| Sep qtr 2017 | 2.0% | 1.8% | +0.2% |
| Jun qtr 2017 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 0.0% |
| Mar qtr 2017 | 1.9% | 2.1% | -0.2% |
| Dec qtr 2016 | 1.9% | 1.5% | +0.4% |
| Sep qtr 2016 | 1.9% | 1.3% | +0.6% |
| Jun qtr 2016 | 2.1% | 1.0% | +1.1% |
| Mar qtr 2016 | 2.1% | 1.3% | +0.8% |
| Dec qtr 2015 | 2.2% | 1.7% | +0.5% |
| Sep qtr 2015 | 2.3% | 1.5% | +0.8% |
| Jun qtr 2015 | 2.3% | 1.5% | +0.8% |
| Mar qtr 2015 | 2.3% | 1.3% | +1.0% |
Living costs by household type
In the year to the June quarter 2026, living costs rose 4.7% for age pensioner households and 3.7% for employee households, against 3.9% for the CPI. The ABS's living cost indexes follow what each kind of household spends, including mortgage and credit card interest, which the CPI leaves out. Pensions are indexed by the larger of the CPI and the pensioner and beneficiary index.
- Age pensioner households4.7%
- Pensioner and beneficiary households4.6%
- Other government transfer recipient households4.6%
- Self-funded retiree households3.8%
- Employee households3.7%
Unemployment was 4.7% in September 2026, the same as the month before (ABS Labour Force, seasonally adjusted).
What has inflation done to your money?
Pick an amount and a year back to 1949 to see what it costs at today's prices. To look forward instead, the inflation impact calculator projects your savings at a rate you choose, or along the path prices actually took.
Payments and pay follow prices too. The Age Pension is indexed on 20 March and 20 September to the higher of the CPI and the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index, and the Fair Work Commission reviews award minimum wages every year, with changes taking effect from 1 July.
Prices have risen 108.5% since 2000, an average of 2.9% a year. Put the other way, $100 today buys what $47.95 bought in 2000.
The 2000 figure is the ABS consumer price index averaged over the calendar year; today is the latest monthly index. Prices for what you buy may have moved differently.
Since the RBA adopted its target in 1993, prices have risen 2.7% a year on average
On the ABS's quarterly index, annual inflation peaked at 7.9% in the December quarter 2022. In 41 of the 134 quarters since 1993 it sat inside the 2 to 3% band: the RBA aims for that on average over time, not every quarter.
Annual inflation by quarter since 1993
ABS quarterly CPI
Show the figures
| Quarter | Annual change |
|---|---|
| Jun qtr 2026 | 3.9% |
| Mar qtr 2026 | 4.1% |
| Dec qtr 2025 | 3.6% |
| Sep qtr 2025 | 3.2% |
| Jun qtr 2025 | 2.1% |
| Mar qtr 2025 | 2.4% |
| Dec qtr 2024 | 2.4% |
| Sep qtr 2024 | 2.9% |
| Jun qtr 2024 | 3.8% |
| Mar qtr 2024 | 3.6% |
| Dec qtr 2023 | 4.0% |
| Sep qtr 2023 | 5.3% |
| Jun qtr 2023 | 6.0% |
| Mar qtr 2023 | 7.0% |
| Dec qtr 2022 | 7.9% |
| Sep qtr 2022 | 7.3% |
| Jun qtr 2022 | 6.2% |
| Mar qtr 2022 | 5.1% |
| Dec qtr 2021 | 3.5% |
| Sep qtr 2021 | 3.1% |
| Jun qtr 2021 | 3.8% |
| Mar qtr 2021 | 1.1% |
| Dec qtr 2020 | 0.9% |
| Sep qtr 2020 | 0.7% |
| Jun qtr 2020 | -0.3% |
| Mar qtr 2020 | 2.2% |
| Dec qtr 2019 | 1.8% |
| Sep qtr 2019 | 1.7% |
| Jun qtr 2019 | 1.5% |
| Mar qtr 2019 | 1.3% |
| Dec qtr 2018 | 1.8% |
| Sep qtr 2018 | 1.9% |
| Jun qtr 2018 | 2.1% |
| Mar qtr 2018 | 1.9% |
| Dec qtr 2017 | 1.9% |
| Sep qtr 2017 | 1.8% |
| Jun qtr 2017 | 1.9% |
| Mar qtr 2017 | 2.1% |
| Dec qtr 2016 | 1.5% |
| Sep qtr 2016 | 1.3% |
| Jun qtr 2016 | 1.0% |
| Mar qtr 2016 | 1.3% |
| Dec qtr 2015 | 1.7% |
| Sep qtr 2015 | 1.5% |
| Jun qtr 2015 | 1.5% |
| Mar qtr 2015 | 1.3% |
| Dec qtr 2014 | 1.7% |
| Sep qtr 2014 | 2.3% |
| Jun qtr 2014 | 3.1% |
| Mar qtr 2014 | 2.9% |
| Dec qtr 2013 | 2.7% |
| Sep qtr 2013 | 2.2% |
| Jun qtr 2013 | 2.4% |
| Mar qtr 2013 | 2.5% |
| Dec qtr 2012 | 2.2% |
| Sep qtr 2012 | 1.9% |
| Jun qtr 2012 | 1.2% |
| Mar qtr 2012 | 1.6% |
| Dec qtr 2011 | 3.1% |
| Sep qtr 2011 | 3.5% |
| Jun qtr 2011 | 3.6% |
| Mar qtr 2011 | 3.3% |
| Dec qtr 2010 | 2.7% |
| Sep qtr 2010 | 2.8% |
| Jun qtr 2010 | 3.0% |
| Mar qtr 2010 | 2.9% |
| Dec qtr 2009 | 2.1% |
| Sep qtr 2009 | 1.2% |
| Jun qtr 2009 | 1.4% |
| Mar qtr 2009 | 2.4% |
| Dec qtr 2008 | 3.7% |
| Sep qtr 2008 | 5.0% |
| Jun qtr 2008 | 4.5% |
| Mar qtr 2008 | 4.3% |
| Dec qtr 2007 | 3.0% |
| Sep qtr 2007 | 1.9% |
| Jun qtr 2007 | 2.1% |
| Mar qtr 2007 | 2.5% |
| Dec qtr 2006 | 3.3% |
| Sep qtr 2006 | 3.9% |
| Jun qtr 2006 | 4.0% |
| Mar qtr 2006 | 3.0% |
| Dec qtr 2005 | 2.8% |
| Sep qtr 2005 | 3.1% |
| Jun qtr 2005 | 2.5% |
| Mar qtr 2005 | 2.3% |
| Dec qtr 2004 | 2.5% |
| Sep qtr 2004 | 2.3% |
| Jun qtr 2004 | 2.5% |
| Mar qtr 2004 | 2.0% |
| Dec qtr 2003 | 2.4% |
| Sep qtr 2003 | 2.6% |
| Jun qtr 2003 | 2.7% |
| Mar qtr 2003 | 3.4% |
| Dec qtr 2002 | 3.0% |
| Sep qtr 2002 | 3.3% |
| Jun qtr 2002 | 2.8% |
| Mar qtr 2002 | 3.0% |
| Dec qtr 2001 | 3.1% |
| Sep qtr 2001 | 2.5% |
| Jun qtr 2001 | 6.1% |
| Mar qtr 2001 | 6.0% |
| Dec qtr 2000 | 5.8% |
| Sep qtr 2000 | 6.0% |
| Jun qtr 2000 | 3.1% |
| Mar qtr 2000 | 2.8% |
| Dec qtr 1999 | 1.8% |
| Sep qtr 1999 | 1.7% |
| Jun qtr 1999 | 1.1% |
| Mar qtr 1999 | 1.2% |
| Dec qtr 1998 | 1.6% |
| Sep qtr 1998 | 1.4% |
| Jun qtr 1998 | 0.7% |
| Mar qtr 1998 | -0.1% |
| Dec qtr 1997 | -0.3% |
| Sep qtr 1997 | -0.3% |
| Jun qtr 1997 | 0.3% |
| Mar qtr 1997 | 1.3% |
| Dec qtr 1996 | 1.5% |
| Sep qtr 1996 | 2.1% |
| Jun qtr 1996 | 3.1% |
| Mar qtr 1996 | 3.7% |
| Dec qtr 1995 | 5.0% |
| Sep qtr 1995 | 5.1% |
| Jun qtr 1995 | 4.5% |
| Mar qtr 1995 | 3.9% |
| Dec qtr 1994 | 2.5% |
| Sep qtr 1994 | 1.9% |
| Jun qtr 1994 | 1.8% |
| Mar qtr 1994 | 1.4% |
| Dec qtr 1993 | 2.0% |
| Sep qtr 1993 | 2.2% |
| Jun qtr 1993 | 1.9% |
| Mar qtr 1993 | 1.2% |
The average new owner-occupier loan was $730,700 in the June quarter 2026
New loan commitments, excluding refinancing. The ABS publishes these once a quarter, about six weeks after it ends; the September quarter 2026 arrives on Wednesday 11 November 2026. They're original figures, so each change compares a quarter with the same quarter a year earlier.
- Average owner-occupier loan
- $730,700
- +7.8% on a year earlier, across 83,109 loans
- Average investor loan
- $708,400
- 54,046 loans
- First home buyers
- 30,129
- Loans, averaging $610,100; -0.1% on a year earlier
New home loans since the March quarter 2021
ABS Lending Indicators, quarterly
Show the figures
| Quarter | Owner-occupiers | Investors | First home buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun qtr 2026 | $730,700 | $708,400 | $610,100 |
| Mar qtr 2026 | $735,300 | $709,700 | $613,900 |
| Dec qtr 2025 | $736,800 | $716,300 | $607,600 |
| Sep qtr 2025 | $694,500 | $685,500 | $560,200 |
| Jun qtr 2025 | $678,100 | $673,400 | $554,700 |
| Mar qtr 2025 | $660,100 | $672,200 | $542,700 |
| Dec qtr 2024 | $666,100 | $673,600 | $543,400 |
| Sep qtr 2024 | $642,000 | $648,700 | $536,500 |
| Jun qtr 2024 | $631,200 | $634,600 | $532,200 |
| Mar qtr 2024 | $609,400 | $631,400 | $518,300 |
| Dec qtr 2023 | $614,100 | $624,600 | $514,400 |
| Sep qtr 2023 | $592,000 | $606,200 | $502,800 |
| Jun qtr 2023 | $583,000 | $595,200 | $498,000 |
| Mar qtr 2023 | $586,400 | $598,800 | $484,700 |
| Dec qtr 2022 | $599,700 | $597,300 | $487,500 |
| Sep qtr 2022 | $594,900 | $584,400 | $483,400 |
| Jun qtr 2022 | $611,500 | $603,500 | $482,000 |
| Mar qtr 2022 | $602,600 | $606,600 | $477,900 |
| Dec qtr 2021 | $590,400 | $591,200 | $470,900 |
| Sep qtr 2021 | $569,700 | $558,400 | $458,700 |
| Jun qtr 2021 | $547,500 | $551,400 | $450,100 |
| Mar qtr 2021 | $505,700 | $519,400 | $425,600 |
- New South Wales+3.3% on a year earlier$841,700
- Queensland+13.3% on a year earlier$751,000
- Western Australia+16.1% on a year earlier$720,000
- South Australia+12.4% on a year earlier$671,700
- Australian Capital Territory+4.8% on a year earlier$666,000
- Victoria+4.0% on a year earlier$664,100
- Northern Territory+12.6% on a year earlier$545,500
- Tasmania+6.9% on a year earlier$516,200
| State | Average owner-occupier loan | On a year | Owner-occupier loans | Average investor loan | First home buyers | Average first home loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSWNew South Wales | $841,700 | +3.3% | 21,018 | $850,600 | 7,117 | $683,300 |
| VICVictoria | $664,100 | +4.0% | 24,248 | $604,000 | 9,791 | $561,700 |
| QLDQueensland | $751,000 | +13.3% | 17,541 | $713,100 | 5,597 | $638,500 |
| SASouth Australia | $671,700 | +12.4% | 5,751 | $642,000 | 2,236 | $580,000 |
| WAWestern Australia | $720,000 | +16.1% | 10,014 | $678,300 | 3,592 | $610,900 |
| TASTasmania | $516,200 | +6.9% | 1,748 | $524,000 | 661 | $478,100 |
| NTNorthern Territory | $545,500 | +12.6% | 596 | $443,200 | 248 | $496,800 |
| ACTAustralian Capital Territory | $666,000 | +4.8% | 2,193 | $681,600 | 887 | $579,700 |
| AUSAustralia | $730,700 | +7.8% | 83,109 | $708,400 | 30,129 | $610,100 |
Averages are the value of new loans divided by their number, worked out from the ABS figures. Owner-occupier and investor loans are for dwellings; first home buyer loans are the ABS's total housing loans to first home buyers, the only basis it publishes them on. For what a loan costs today, see every published home loan rate.
The next CPI lands Wednesday 28 October 2026
- Wednesday28October 2026Consumer Price IndexSeptember 2026 and the September quarter
- Wednesday11November 2026Lending IndicatorsSeptember quarter 2026
- Wednesday18November 2026Wage Price IndexSeptember quarter 2026
- Thursday19November 2026Labour ForceOctober 2026
- Thursday25February 2027Average Weekly EarningsNovember 2026
Each release is at 11.30 am Canberra time. Dates from the ABS release calendar; this page reads each release the same day.
Free to download and cite
Download
The monthly CPI since April 2024: index, monthly and annual change, and the trimmed mean, one row per month.
The Finance Algorithm, "Australian inflation tracker", 30 Sept 2026, https://www.thefinancealgorithm.com/inflation. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, CC BY 4.0.
ABS figures, checked and read on release day
Monthly, not quarterly
Since November 2025 the ABS's complete monthly CPI has been the headline measure of inflation, with figures back to April 2024. Annual changes are shown as the ABS publishes them, to one decimal place.
One index base
Every index number here is on the ABS's current reference base, Sep 2025 = 100.0, which the ABS carries back through the quarterly series to 1948. Each release is checked for a single base before it's used, so the long series never mixes scales.
Our arithmetic
Real wage growth, annual changes in the quarterly index, average loan sizes and the worth-today sums are calculated from the ABS figures. Everything else is as published.
Seasonal adjustment
Headline, city and group CPI and the lending figures are original series. The trimmed mean, wages, earnings and unemployment are seasonally adjusted, as the ABS headlines them.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, from the ABS Data API, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Normalised by The Finance Algorithm. Consumer Price Index, August 2026 (released 30 Sept 2026); Wage Price Index, June quarter 2026 (released 19 Aug 2026); Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 (released 13 Aug 2026); Selected Living Cost Indexes, June quarter 2026 (released 17 Oct 2026); Lending Indicators, June quarter 2026 (released 14 Aug 2026); Labour Force, September 2026 (released 15 Oct 2026). General information, not financial advice.
Put inflation into your own numbers
- Inflation impactWhat your savings are worth in future, at a set rate or along the path prices actually took.
- Super balance projectorYour retirement balance in today's dollars.
- Term deposit calculatorWhether a deposit rate beats inflation.
- RBA rate trackerWhich lenders have passed on the latest cash rate move.
Questions people are asking
- What is the inflation rate in Australia right now?
- Annual CPI inflation was 4.0% in the 12 months to August 2026, up from 3.5% in July 2026, according to the ABS monthly Consumer Price Index released on Wednesday 30 September 2026. Trimmed mean inflation, the underlying measure the RBA watches most closely, was 3.6%. The September 2026 figures are due on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
- Is inflation inside the RBA's target band?
- The Reserve Bank aims to keep annual inflation between 2 and 3% on average over time. Headline inflation of 4.0% is above that band, and trimmed mean inflation of 3.6% is above it. The headline rate has been above the band every month since August 2025.
- Which city has the highest inflation?
- Hobart, where prices rose 4.8% over the 12 months to August 2026. Melbourne had the lowest rate, at 3.5%. The national figure, a weighted average of the eight capitals, was 4.0%.
- What is pushing prices up?
- Housing contributed most to the 4.0% rise over the year: 1.2 percentage points, with its prices up 5.7%. Transport (0.6 points, prices up 5.6%) and food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.5 points, up 3.0%) came next.
- Are wages keeping up with inflation?
- Not in the latest figures. The Wage Price Index rose 3.2% over the year to the June quarter 2026, while consumer prices rose 3.9%, so wages fell 0.7% in real terms. That is the third quarter in a row real wages have fallen.
- What is the average weekly wage in Australia?
- Full-time adults earned an average of $2,083.70 a week in ordinary time earnings in May 2026, seasonally adjusted, up 3.7% on a year earlier (ABS Average Weekly Earnings). An average is pulled up by the highest earners, so most full-time workers earn less than this.
- What is $100 from 2000 worth today?
- About $208.54 in August 2026 prices: consumer prices have risen 108.5% since the 2000 average, or 2.9% a year. The calculator on this page does the same sum for any amount and any year back to 1949.
- What is the average new home loan in Australia?
- New owner-occupier home loans averaged $730,700 in the June quarter 2026: 83,109 loans worth $60.73 billion, excluding refinancing (ABS Lending Indicators). New South Wales had the largest average, at $841,700. First home buyers' loans averaged $610,100.
- When is the next CPI release?
- The ABS publishes the CPI for September 2026 and the September quarter on Wednesday 28 October 2026 at 11.30 am Canberra time, and this page picks it up the same day.
- Where do these figures come from?
- Every figure is read from the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Data API: the Consumer Price Index, Wage Price Index, Average Weekly Earnings, Lending Indicators and Labour Force. The ABS licenses them under CC BY 4.0. Each release is checked against the one before it goes live, and the averages and real changes are worked out from the published figures where the page says so. Nothing here is a forecast or advice.