The benchmark interest rate in Australia was last recorded at 3.85 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 **** percentage points, bringing the interest rate to **** percent. This was the thirteenth interest rate increase by the RBA since November 4, 2020, which saw the interest rate drop to a record *** percent.

Key information about Australia Long Term Interest Rate

• Australia Government Bond Yield: Australian Government: 10 Years was reported at 4.42 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 4.48 % pa in the previous month.
• Australia Long Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Jul 1969 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 16.50 % pa in Aug 1982 and a record low of 0.80 % pa in Oct 2020.
• Long Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by Reserve Bank of Australia.

• In the latest reports, Australia Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Bank Acceptance Bills Rates: 90 days was reported at 4.12 % pa in Feb 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Cash Target Rate) was set at 4.10 % pa in Feb 2025.
• Australia Exchange Rate against USD averaged 1.49 (USD/AUD) in Jun 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: 3-Month or 90-Day Rates and Yields: Bank Bills: Total for Australia (IR3TBB01AUM156N) from Jan 1968 to Dec 2023 about bills, Australia, 3-month, yield, interest rate, banks, interest, depository institutions, and rate.

As of the end of March 2025, the average mortgage interest rate for Australian owner-occupier borrowers was around *** percent. In comparison, the average investor interest rate was approximately *** percent. These rates refer to outstanding housing loans from banks and registered financial corporations. New loans financed in that month had even similar interest rates, at *** percent for owner-occupiers and *** percent for investors, respectively.

The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) cash rate target in-part determines interest rates on financial products.

Real interest rate (%) in Australia was reported at 1.5781 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Real interest rate - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Key information about Australia Short Term Interest Rate

• Australia Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Bank Acceptance Bills Rates: 90 days was reported at 4.12 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 4.25 % pa in the previous month.
• Australia Short Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Jun 1969 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 21.75 % pa in May 1974 and a record low of 0.01 % pa in Jan 2021.
• Short Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by Reserve Bank of Australia.

• In the latest reports, Australia Government Bond Yield: Australian Government: 10 Years was reported at 4.48 % pa in Jan 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Cash Target Rate) was set at 4.10 % pa in Feb 2025.
• Australia Exchange Rate against USD averaged 1.49 (USD/AUD) in Jun 2023.

From 2010 to 2017, Australia had the highest short-term interest rate among selected countries worldwide. Afterward, its rates became more aligned with those of Canada and the United States. The lowest short-term interest rates during this period were found in the Euro area and Japan, as well as in the United States until 2015, where rates remained below *** percent. In 2021, all regions except Japan experienced a decrease in interest rates. However, in the following years, rates increased. As of 2024 short term interest rates rested as roughly *** percent for Australia and Canada, *** in the Euro area, and over **** percent in the U.S.. Japan had the lowest rate at **** percent.

Key information about Australia Policy Rate

• Australia cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Cash Target Rate) was set at 4.10 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 4.35 % pa in the previous Jan 2025.
• Australia Policy Rate averaged 4.75 % pa and is updated monthly, available from Aug 1990 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 14.00 % pa in Sep 1990 and a record low of 0.10 % pa in Apr 2022.

• In the latest reports, Australia Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Bank Acceptance Bills Rates: 90 days was reported at 4.25 % pa in Jan 2025.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Government Bond Yield: Australian Government: 10 Years) was reported at 4.48 % pa in Jan 2025.
• Australia Exchange Rate against USD averaged 1.49 (USD/AUD) in Jun 2023.
• Its Real Effective Exchange Rate was 100.34 in Jan 2025.

As of November 2024, the average owner-occupier home loan interest rate was the highest in the Australian state of Western Australia, with an average rate of around **** percent. In comparison, the average mortgage interest rate in Victoria was at around **** percent.

In May 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 20 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 -0.1 percent in May 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.

Deposit Interest Rate in Australia decreased to 2.75 percent in June from 2.80 percent in May of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Deposit Interest Rate in Australia.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: 3-Month or 90-Day Rates and Yields: Bank Bills: Total for Australia (IR3TBB01AUQ156N) from Q1 1968 to Q4 2023 about bills, Australia, 3-month, yield, interest rate, banks, interest, depository institutions, and rate.

Lending interest rate (%) in Australia was reported at 5.101 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Lending interest rate - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Mortgage Rate in Australia decreased to 5.84 percent in May from 5.98 percent in April of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Australia Mortgage Rate.

The Finance sector's operating environment was previously characterised by record-low interest rates. Nonetheless, high inflation prompted the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to hike the cash rate from May 2022 onwards. This shift allowed financial institutions to impose higher loan charges, propelling their revenue. Banks raised interest rates quicker than funding costs in the first half of 2022-23, boosting net interest margins. However, sophisticated competition and digital disruption have reshaped the sector and nibbled at the Big Four's dominance, weighing on ADIs' performance. In the first half of 2025, the fierce competition has forced ADIs to trim lending rates even ahead of RBA moves to protect their slice of the mortgage market. Higher cash rates initially widened net interest margins, but the expiry of cheap TFF funding and a fierce mortgage war are now compressing spreads, weighing on ADIs' profitability. Although ANZ's 2024 Suncorp Bank takeover highlights some consolidation, the real contest is unfolding in tech. Larger financial institutions are combatting intensified competition from neobanks and fintechs by upscaling their technology investments, strengthening their strategic partnerships with cloud providers and technology consulting firms and augmenting their digital offerings. Notable examples include the launch of ANZ Plus by ANZ and Commonwealth Bank's Unloan. Meanwhile, investor demand for rental properties, elevated residential housing prices and sizable state-infrastructure pipelines have continued to underpin loan growth, offsetting the drag from weaker mortgage affordability and volatile business sentiment. Overall, subdivision revenue is expected to rise at an annualised 8.3% over the five years through 2024-25, to $524.6 billion. This growth trajectory includes an estimated 4.8% decline in 2024-25 driven by rate cuts in 2025, which will weigh on income from interest-bearing assets. The Big Four banks will double down on technology investments and partnerships to counter threats from fintech startups and neobanks. As cybersecurity risks and APRA regulations evolve, financial institutions will gear up to strengthen their focus on shielding sensitive customer data and preserving trust, lifting compliance and operational costs. In the face of fierce competition, evolving regulations and shifting customer preferences, consolidation through M&As is poised to be a viable trend for survival and growth, especially among smaller financial institutions like credit unions. While rate cuts will challenge profitability within the sector, expansionary economic policies are poised to stimulate business and mortgage lending activity, presenting opportunities for strategic growth in a dynamic market. These trends are why Finance subdivision revenue is forecast to rise by an annualised 1.1% over the five years through the end of 2029-30, to $554.9 billion

Mortgage lenders are dealing with the RBA's shift to a tighter monetary policy, as it fights heavy inflation. Since May 2022, the RBA has raised the benchmark cash rate, which flows to interest rates on home loans. This represents a complete reversal of the prevailing approach to monetary policy taken in recent years. Over the course of the pandemic, subdued interest rates, in conjunction with government incentives and relaxed interest rate buffers, encouraged strong mortgage uptake. With the RBA's policy reversal, authorised deposit-taking institutions will need to balance their interest rate spreads to ensure steady profit. A stronger cash rate means more interest income from existing home loans, but also steeper funding costs. Moreover, increasing loan rates mean that prospective homeowners are being cut out of the market, which will slow demand for new home loans. Overall, industry revenue is expected to rise at an annualised 0.4% over the past five years, including an estimated 2.2% jump in 2023-24, to reach $103.4 billion. APRA's regulatory controls were updated in January 2023, with new capital adequacy ratios coming into effect. The major banks have had to tighten up their capital buffers to protect against financial instability. Although the ‘big four’ banks control most home loans, other lenders have emerged to foster competition for new loanees. Technological advances have made online-only mortgage lending viable. However, lenders that don't take deposits are more reliant on wholesale funding markets, which will be stretched under a higher cash rate. Looking ahead, technology spending isn't slowing down, as consumers continue to expect secure and user-friendly online financial services. This investment is even more pressing, given the ongoing threat of cyber-attacks. Industry revenue is projected to inch upwards at an annualised 0.8% over the five years through 2028-29, to $107.7 billion.

According to a 2023 survey conducted among consumers in Australia regarding their holiday season shopping habits, around ** percent of respondents based in South Australia felt that interest rates and inflation would significantly impact their Christmas spending decisions. On the other hand, only ** percent of respondents based in Queensland felt that inflation and interest rates would have a profound affect on their expenditure over the Christmas period.

Mortgage interest rates worldwide varied greatly in 2024, from less than **** percent in many European countries, to as high as ** percent in Turkey. The average mortgage rate in a country depends on the central bank's base lending rate and macroeconomic indicators such as inflation and forecast economic growth. Since 2022, inflationary pressures have led to rapid increase in mortgage interest rates. Which are the leading mortgage markets? An easy way to estimate the importance of the mortgage sector in each country is by comparing household debt depth, or the ratio of the debt held by households compared to the county's GDP. In 2023, Switzerland, Australia, and Canada had some of the highest household debt to GDP ratios worldwide. While this indicator shows the size of the sector relative to the country’s economy, the value of mortgages outstanding allows to compare the market size in different countries. In Europe, for instance, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France were the largest mortgage markets by outstanding mortgage lending. Mortgage lending trends in the U.S. In the United States, new mortgage lending soared in 2021. This was largely due to the growth of new refinance loans that allow homeowners to renegotiate their mortgage terms and replace their existing loan with a more favorable one. Following the rise in interest rates, the mortgage market cooled, and refinance loans declined.