A comparison of the Australian target cash rate and the overnight interbank lending rate shows that, after around a decade of being identical, the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to the actual overnight lending rate being lower than the Reserve Bank of Australia's target rate. This means that banks are lending to each other at lower rates than the "official" interest rate. One reason for this is the that the Reserve bank has made money available to banks in several new ways over this period (such as repo agreements where banks can pledge assets for short term funds), increasing liquidity in the banking system. As of May 2024, the overnight interbank cash rate and the target cash rate stood at 4.32 and 4.35 percent, respectively.

The benchmark interest rate in Australia was last recorded at 4.10 percent. This dataset provides - Australia Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

On November 8, 2023, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) increased the interest rate by 0.25 percentage points, bringing the interest rate to 4.35 percent. This was the thirteenth interest rate increase by the RBA since November 4, 2020, which saw the interest rate drop to a record 0.1 percent.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: 3-Month or 90-Day Rates and Yields: Bank Bills: Total for Australia (IR3TBB01AUA156N) from 1968 to 2023 about bills, Australia, 3-month, yield, interest rate, banks, interest, depository institutions, and rate.

Exchange Rate: RBA: New Zealand Dollar to Australian Dollar data was reported at 1.110 AUD/NZD in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.103 AUD/NZD for Jan 2025. Exchange Rate: RBA: New Zealand Dollar to Australian Dollar data is updated monthly, averaging 1.147 AUD/NZD from Jul 1969 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 668 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.763 AUD/NZD in Nov 1984 and a record low of 0.997 AUD/NZD in Nov 1972. Exchange Rate: RBA: New Zealand Dollar to Australian Dollar data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Reserve Bank of Australia. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.M009: Exchange Rate.

The interest rate of bank accepted bills/negotiable certificates of deposit for Australian banks has fallen slightly over the last decade. From a peak of around five percent from late 2010 to late 2011, interest rates on three and six month bills/certificates had fallen to 0.01 and 0.03 percent respectively as of September 2021 . Notably, these rates were below the the official Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) target cash rate of 0.1 percent. Primarily, the reason for this is that the RBA was more concerned with ensuring banks have liquidity than intervening so that the cash rate is consistent with its target rate, and to this end RBA used new methods to inject funds into banks since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As of May 2024, the interest rates on three and six month bills/certificates increased to 4.36 and 4.61 percent, respectively.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates, Discount Rate for Australia (INTDSRAUM193N) from Jul 1969 to Apr 2013 about Australia, interest rate, interest, and rate.

Exchange Rate: RBA: Euro to Australian Dollar data was reported at 0.598 AUD/EUR in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.599 AUD/EUR for Jan 2025. Exchange Rate: RBA: Euro to Australian Dollar data is updated monthly, averaging 0.621 AUD/EUR from Jan 1999 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 314 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.858 AUD/EUR in Jul 2012 and a record low of 0.492 AUD/EUR in Dec 2008. Exchange Rate: RBA: Euro to Australian Dollar data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Reserve Bank of Australia. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.M009: Exchange Rate.

As of November 2024, the average variable mortgage interest rate for Australian owner-occupier borrowers with outstanding loans was around 6.3 percent. In comparison, the average investor interest rate for outstanding loans was approximately 6.6 percent. New loan interest rates for owner-occupiers and investors were slightly lower that month, at 6.2 and 6.5 percent, respectively.

Australia Exchange Rate: RBA: Trade Weighted Index data was reported at 59.500 May1970=100 in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 59.600 May1970=100 for Jan 2025. Australia Exchange Rate: RBA: Trade Weighted Index data is updated monthly, averaging 63.300 May1970=100 from May 1970 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 658 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 121.300 May1970=100 in Jan 1974 and a record low of 47.000 May1970=100 in Sep 2001. Australia Exchange Rate: RBA: Trade Weighted Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Reserve Bank of Australia. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.M009: Exchange Rate.

In March 2003, banks and selected Registered Financial Corporations (RFCs) began reporting their international assets, liabilities and country exposures to APR in ARF/RRF 231 International Exposures. This return is the basis of the data provided by Australia to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) for its International Banking Statistics (IBS) data collection. APR ceased the RFC data collection after September 2010. The IBS data are based on the methodology described in the BIS Guide on International Financial Statistics (see http://www.bis.org/statistics/intfinstatsguide.pdf; Part II International banking statistics). Data reported for Australia, and other countries, on the BIS website are expressed in United States dollars (USD). Data are recorded on an end-quarter basis. All banks operating in Australia complete ARF 231. Between March 2003 and September 2010, only those larger RFCs with sizeable overseas assets and/or liabilities completed RRF 231. Bank and RFC positions are reported in Australian dollars (AUD). Non-AUD denominated positions have been converted to AUD using an appropriate end-quarter exchange rate, so changes in reported data between quarters are due not only to changes in positions but also valuation gains or losses due to exchange rate changes. There are two sets of IBS data: locational data, which are used to gauge the role of banks and financial centres in the intermediation of international capital flows; and consolidated data, which can be used to monitor the country risk exposure of national banking systems. Only consolidated data are reported in this statistical table. The data in this statistical table summarise the country exposures of Australian-owned banks (and selected RFCs between March 2003 and September 2010). This is a smaller reporting pool than the series reported in statistical table B11.2, which is based on all banks and RFCs reporting ARF/RRF 231 data. The types of assets included here are consistent with those reported in statistical tables B11.1, B11.2 and B12.1, except that the data are consolidated for Australian-owned reporting entities (i.e. includes the claims on countries of all the offices worldwide of entities with head offices in Australia, but excludes positions between different offices of the same group). Consolidated data only include positions with non-residents (in any currency). Data are shown for a selected group of countries that account for the bulk of the total. Similar data for other countries are also available in statistical tables B13.1.1 and B13.1.2. Data presented in this statistical table are immediate risk claims (expressed by the BIS as claims on an immediate borrower basis), which cover exposures on an immediate counterparty location basis. Ultimate risk claims are presented in a complementary statistical table B13.2, which cover immediate exposures adjusted (via guarantees and other risk transfers) to reflect the location of the ultimate counterparty/risk. In the maturity distribution, the shortest maturity bracket includes deposits that are repayable on demand, overdue items and overdrafts. aInternational claimsa represent cross-border claims in all currencies and foreign officesa local claims in non-local currencies (which would include, for example, USD claims on New Zealand residents by the New Zealand subsidiary of an Australian-owned bank). Also shown are the local currency claims on local residents by the foreign offices of reporting entities (for example, the New Zealand dollar (NZD) claims on New Zealand residents by the New Zealand subsidiary of an Australian-owned bank). These local currency claims are added to international claims to produce foreign claims. International organisations are included in the aPublic sectora category in the consolidated data (while in the locational data they can be reported as either bank or non-bank depending on the particular organisation). Official monetary authorities (central banks or similar national and international bodies, such as the BIS) are also included in the public sector in the consolidated data (but are treated as banks in the locational data, B12.1 and B12.2). Publicly-owned entities (other than banks) are classed in the aNon- bank private sectora in the consolidated data (and as non-banks in the locational data). The aNet risk transfera is mainly due to risk transfers into and out of Australia and typically does not sum to zero. In several cases, risk is transferred out of the countries listed and into Australia hence becoming, in effect, domestic exposures (and reducing foreign claims on an ultimate risk basis). Similarly, the risk associated with what were initially domestic exposures has in several cases been transferred, via guarantees and other risk transfers, to other countries (thereby increasing foreign claims on an ultimate risk basis). The total risk transfer amount is not comparable to the risk transfer amount reported for Australia in the data series of statistical table B11.2 as the former covers only Australian-owned entities while the latter is for all reporting entities. Derivatives are not included in international claims or foreign claims.

Exchange Rate: RBA: Thai Baht to Australian Dollar data was reported at 21.230 AUD/THB in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 20.970 AUD/THB for Jan 2025. Exchange Rate: RBA: Thai Baht to Australian Dollar data is updated monthly, averaging 25.435 AUD/THB from Jan 2010 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 182 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33.220 AUD/THB in Jul 2012 and a record low of 20.160 AUD/THB in Mar 2020. Exchange Rate: RBA: Thai Baht to Australian Dollar data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Reserve Bank of Australia. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.M009: Exchange Rate.

Monetary policy changes are expressed in terms of a target for the cash rate – the interest rate paid or received on unsecured overnight funds in the interbank market. Commencing February 2008, the announcement is made on the day of the Reserve Bank Board meeting, effective the following day. Prior to this time, the announcement and effective dates were the same.

The historical data in this table are sourced from Becker C and M Sinclair (2004), :Profitability of Reserve Bank Foreign Exchange Operations: Twenty Years After the Float-C/, RB Research Discussion …Show full descriptionThe historical data in this table are sourced from Becker C and M Sinclair (2004), :Profitability of Reserve Bank Foreign Exchange Operations: Twenty Years After the Float-C/, RB Research Discussion Paper No 2004-06. Updates to the data are published annually with a one-year lag. It is not appropriate to use the :Market-C/ series as a proxy for foreign exchange market intervention. The RB engages in spot or forward transactions with dealers in the market virtually every day. Most of these transactions are not intended to influence the exchange rate. Rather, they occur to cover orders for foreign exchange from clients such as the Australian Government. When the RB sells foreign exchange to a client, it has the choice of meeting this out of its holdings of foreign exchange or buying the equivalent amount of foreign exchange in the market. Most of the time it does the latter, though even then the timing of the sale and purchase may not coincide precisely. The RB can also engage in foreign exchange transactions with counterparties other than dealers as a means of covering client orders. Daily net foreign exchange transactions, net sales (-) and purchases (+), are reported according to the date on which the trade took place. This is in contrast to the monthly transactions data in Table A.4, which are reported according to the day on which settlement took place. Another difference to Table A.4 is that interest received on holdings of foreign assets is not included. aMarketa transactions are foreign exchange transactions against the Australian dollar (excluding foreign exchange swaps) undertaken by the RB with authorised foreign exchange dealers in Australia or banks overseas. aGovernment and other counterpartiesa transactions include the RBAas foreign exchange transactions with the Australian Government, outright transactions with other central banks and international financial institutions that are not intended to affect the exchange rate, and transactions with clients other than the Australian Government.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: 3-Month or 90-Day Rates and Yields: Interbank Rates: Total for Australia (IR3TIB01AUM156N) from Jan 1968 to Feb 2025 about interbank, Australia, 3-month, yield, interest rate, interest, and rate.

Graph and download economic data for U.S. Dollars to Australian Dollar Spot Exchange Rate (DEXUSAL) from 1971-01-04 to 2025-03-21 about Australia, exchange rate, currency, rate, and USA.

Australia Foreign Exchange Transactions: RBA: Other Outright data was reported at 944.000 AUD mn in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,365.000 AUD mn for Dec 2024. Australia Foreign Exchange Transactions: RBA: Other Outright data is updated monthly, averaging 205.000 AUD mn from Jan 1995 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 361 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11,994.000 AUD mn in Aug 2021 and a record low of -6,786.000 AUD mn in Jan 2024. Australia Foreign Exchange Transactions: RBA: Other Outright data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Reserve Bank of Australia. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.KA005: Official Reserve Assets & Foreign Exchange Transactions. ‘Other outright’ transactions include the Reserve Bank of Australia’s outright transactions with other central banks, international financial institutions which are not intended to affect the exchange rate, clients other than the Australian Government, and interest received on holdings of foreign assets. Prior to 2015, the series is computed using a different methodology. The changes in the calculations were mainly due to a change to the treatment of repos, derivatives and gold. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Credit unions became authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) under the Banking Act 1959 on 1 July 1999 when responsibility for their prudential regulation shifted from the States and Territories to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). Since 1 July 1999, credit unions have submitted monthly returns to APRA; prior to that date, they submitted returns to the Reserve Bank under the Financial Corporations Act 1974. In September 2001, APRA implemented new reporting forms for credit unions. From October 2001, data are derived from ARF 323.0: Statement of Financial Position (Licensed ADI). Since December 1999, series have only included data for credit unions with total assets greater than or equal to $50 million.\r \r Selected assets:\r \r ‘Cash and liquid assets’ is composed of ‘Cash’, ‘Balances with ADIs’ and ‘Other’. None of these items include bills of exchange, bills receivable, remittances in transit or certificates of deposit.\r \r ‘Cash’ includes Australian and foreign currency notes and coins, gold coin, gold bullion, and gold certificates held as investments. It excludes loans repayable in gold bullion.\r \r ‘Balances with ADIs’ includes deposits at call with Australian resident banks and other ADIs and settlement account balances due from banks and other ADIs, incorporating receivables for unsettled sales of securities.\r \r ‘Other’ includes deposits at call with Registered Financial Corporations (RFCs) and other financial institutions, net claims on recognised clearing houses in Australia, securities purchased under agreements to resell, funds held with the Reserve Bank and other central banks, and settlement account balances due from the Reserve Bank, other central banks, RFCs and other financial institutions, incorporating receivables for unsettled sales of securities.\r \r ‘Government securities’, ‘ADI securities’, ‘Corporate paper’ and ‘Other securities’ include both trading and investment securities. Trading securities are recorded at net fair value. Investment securities are recorded at cost and adjusted for the amortisation of any premiums and discounts on purchase over the period of maturity.\r \r ‘Government securities’ include securities issued by the Australian, State, Territory and local governments and State and Territory central borrowing authority (CBA) securities.\r \r ‘ADI securities’ includes securities issued by banks and other ADIs, but not equity investments in parent, controlled or associated entities.\r \r ‘Other securities’ includes asset-backed securities, other debt securities and equity securities, other than those issued by ADIs, but not equity investments in parent, controlled or associated entities.\r \r ‘Residential’ includes both owner-occupied and investment housing loans to Australian households, net of specific provisions for doubtful debts.\r \r ‘Personal’ includes revolving credit for a purpose other than housing, credit card liabilities, lease financing net of unearned revenue, and other personal term loans to Australian households net of specific provisions for doubtful debts.\r \r ‘Commercial’ includes loans to public non-financial corporations, private trading corporations, private unincorporated businesses, community service organisations, Australian, State, Territory and local governments, ADIs and other financial institutions, net of specific provisions for doubtful debts. Loans to ADIs and other financial institutions includes loans to the Reserve Bank and other central banks, banks, other ADIs, RFCs, central borrowing authorities, fund managers, stockbrokers, insurance brokers, securitisers, mortgage, fixed interest and equity unit trusts and other financial intermediaries.\r \r Selected Liabilities:\r \r ‘Borrowings from ADIs’ includes settlement account balances due to ADIs and both variable and fixed interest rate short-term loans from ADIs. A loan is reported as short-term if its residual term to maturity is one year or less.\r \r ‘Deposits’ includes retail transaction call deposit accounts held by households, all other transaction call deposit accounts held by entities other than households, deposits from resident banks, resident non-bank financial institutions and intermediaries such as merchant banks, vostro balances from banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), the Australian-dollar equivalent of foreign currency deposits, deposits from controlled and associated entities, retail non-transaction call deposit accounts held by households, all other non-transaction deposit call accounts held by entities other than households, term deposits, certificates of deposit and other forms of deposits.\r \r ‘Other’ liabilities includes settlement account balances due to RFCs and other financial institutions, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, promissory notes or commercial paper with a residual term to maturity of one year or less, other debt securities with a residual term of one year or less, variable interest rate short-term loans from counterparties other than ADIs, fixed interest rate short-term loans from counterparties other than ADIs, debt securities with a residual term to maturity of more than one year, variable and fixed interest rate loans and borrowings from Australian residents with a residual term to maturity of more than one year, interest accrued but not yet paid, interest received but not yet earned, unrealised losses on trading derivatives, items in suspense and other liabilities not separately identified above. A loan is reported as short-term if its residual term to maturity is one year or less. ‘Other’ liabilities do not include amounts due to clearing houses.\r

In 2019, the real interest rate in Australia decreased by 1.7 percentage points (-51.2 percent) compared to 2018. This was a significant decrease in the real interest rate. Real interest rate is the adjusted lending interest rate to remove the effects of inflation, as measured by the GDP deflator (implicit price deflator).Find more statistics on other topics about Australia with key insights such as deposit interest rate, domestic credit to the private sector as a share of GDP, and market capitalization of listed domestic companies as a share of GDP.

In January 2025, global inflation rates and central bank interest rates showed significant variation across major economies. Most economies initiated interest rate cuts from mid-2024 due to declining inflationary pressures. The U.S., UK, and EU central banks followed a consistent pattern of regular rate reductions throughout late 2024. In early 2025, Russia maintained the highest interest rate at 21 percent, while Japan retained the lowest at 0.5 percent. Varied inflation rates across major economies The inflation landscape varies considerably among major economies. China had the lowest inflation rate at 0.5 percent in January 2025. In contrast, Russia maintained a high inflation rate of 9.9 percent. These figures align with broader trends observed in early 2025, where China had the lowest inflation rate among major developed and emerging economies, while Russia's rate remained the highest. Central bank responses and economic indicators Central banks globally implemented aggressive rate hikes throughout 2022-23 to combat inflation. The European Central Bank exemplified this trend, raising rates from 0 percent in January 2022 to 4.5 percent by September 2023. A coordinated shift among major central banks began in mid-2024, with the ECB, Bank of England, and Federal Reserve initiating rate cuts, with forecasts suggesting further cuts through 2025 and 2026.