The RBA increased the Cash Rate by a further 25 basis points to 3.1%. Data from the ABS showed quarter on quarter GDP growth of 0.6% and 5.9% year on year
This week the RBA increased the Cash Rate by a further 25 basis points to 3.1%. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed quarter on quarter GDP growth of 0.6% and 5.9% year on year for the September quarter. The Household savings ratio continued to fall to near pre-pandemic levels.
Gross Domestic Product displayed early signs of cooling to near-normal growth rates after seeing considerable growth following the conclusion of the 2021 lockdowns. September’s 0.6% quarterly growth rate annualised is 2.4%, however, growth in the 12 months to September 2022 reads 5.9%. RBA Governor Phillip Lowe commented on Tuesday (6th of December) that the RBA’s central forecast is for growth of around 1½ per cent in 2023 and 2024.
While household spending was the largest contributor to quarterly growth, discretionary consumption has been increasing at a decelerating rate. However, it remains elevated, with the last four quarterly reads being 15.1% (Dec 21), 4.0% (Mar 22), 3.9% (Jun 22) and 1.8% (Sep 22). For context, the pre-pandemic average, measured from September 2014 to December 2019, is 0.53%.
The household savings ratio continued to fall, arriving at 6.9% in September 2022. This sits only slightly above the pre-pandemic average of 6.0% (Sep 2014 – December 2019) and has shown early signs of a mean reversion as the fall decelerates. The reduction in savings ratio can most prominently be explained by the continued (yet slowing) increases in discretionary spending and increased mortgage servicing costs as the RBA Cash Rate climbs higher.
On the 6th of December, the RBA Board decided to increase the Cash Rate by a further 25 basis points, taking the official rate to 3.1%. Governor Lowe commented that inflation is still too high. Despite the slight month-on-month decline in the read for the 12 months to October 2022 (6.9%) (as opposed to the 12 months to September 2022, 7.3%), the RBA expects inflation to peak at around 8% over the 12 months to the December quarter before receding from next year and landing slightly above 3% over 2024.
Governor Lowe’s statement in the closing paragraph made it very clear that the Board expects to increase interest rates further over the period ahead, but it is not on a pre-set course. As seen below, the market, as at market close on December 7th priced in a peak Cash Rate of 3.655% in October/November of next year.
The continual increase in rates can benefit returns for credit investors, as the return on floating rate deals increases and maturing short-duration fixed rate exposures are able to be repriced upon redeployment. However, we are conscious of the stress this environment places on both households and businesses. After all, the RBA’s objective is to force a reduction in consumption via eroded disposable income after debt servicing costs. As was the case throughout the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021—as well as the market turmoil earlier in 2022—we will maintain frequent dialogue with the lenders we work with, keeping a close eye on the book as we transition to the new interest rate environment.
This weekly letter was written by Brett Craig of the Aura Private Credit Team.
Sources:
1 Australian Bureau of Statistics – Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product – September 2022 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics – Monthly Household Spending Indicator – October 2022
3 Reserve Bank of Australia – Statement by Phillip Lowe, Governor: Monetary Policy Decision – December 2022
4 Australian Bureau of Statistics – Monthly Consumer Price Index Indicator – October 2022
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