Australia Monthly CPI Indicator

Australia's monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) advanced 2.4% yoy in February 2025, easing from January's four-month high of 2.5%, and below forecasts of 2.5%. It marked the lowest inflation rate since last November, with food prices moderating (3.1% vs 3.3%) mainly due to a softer rise in several grocery items. Also, housing prices rose softer (1.8% vs 2.1%), as rent cost rose the least since March 2023 (5.5% vs 5.8%) and new dwellings climbed at the softest pace since May 2021 (1.6% vs 2.0%) while electricity prices fell faster (-13.2% vs -11.5%), as the impact of state rebates in Victoria. Additionally, prices increased less for clothing (1.8% vs 2.1%), education (5.6% vs 6.5%), and financial services (4.5% vs 5.3%) while transport prices fell for the 1st time in 3 months (-0.9% vs 0.5%), as automotive fuel dropped the most in 3 months. The annual trimmed mean inflation edged down to 2.7%. Excluding volatile items and travel, the CPI rose 2.7%, slowing from a 2.9% gain in January.