What is the Target Cash Rate (and Why Does it Matter)?

Last week, for the third month in a row, the Reserve Bank of Australia hiked its target cash rate. The target rate is now 1.35%, up from the all-time low rate of 0.1% that it had been at since November 2020. So, what is the target cash rate? And why does it matter?
Inflation is starting to bite, and people on income support, such as aged pensioners, have not had their benefits adjust yet. This has many of our clients thinking about how best to cover the rising cost of living. Happily, the Commonwealth is here to help.
The financial year is almost over. Which, of course, means that the new financial year is about to start. This makes right now a great time to develop some better financial habits, so that your finances are fully charged come June 30 next year.
Australians like to move home. Especially young Australians. According to the 2016 census data, young Australians aged 18-24 moved home at almost three times the rate of older people aged 55-64. But can people move home a lot and still buy a home as well?
In our newsletter last week, we discussed the larger talking points from the Federal Budget. This week, we thought we take a look at some of the smaller changes to superannuation that will be of interest to many of our clients.
A driver has two routes to head home after work. Somehow, we know that if the driver takes Route A, he will be in a minor bingle in which two cars are damaged. If the driver takes route B, he will get home safe and sound. You are the Australian Treasurer. Which route do you want the driver to take?
Unless you are an avowed cyclist, you will probably have noticed what is happening to petrol prices at the moment. They are up. Way up. Prices in most parts of Australia are now over $2 per litre for standard motor vehicle go-go juice.
One of the most prominent players in the Australian economy is the Reserve Bank of Australia – or the RBA. The RBA is Australia’s Central Bank. This means that it is the banker for the Commonwealth Government and that it is responsible for management of Australia’s currency.
You might be hearing quite a bit about inflation lately. So, what is it and do we need to be worried?
Every year the Australian Tax Office releases it’s own version of it’s ‘Hottest 100.’ Well, not really. What the ATO actually does is ask us to imagine that there are only 100 taxpayers in Australia – and then give us a profile of what that 100 people look like, according to their tax returns. This helps us put our taxpaying efforts in perspective.