Australia CPI September 2026
September 29 @ 9:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Australia CPI September 2026
Next Australia CPI: Wednesday, at 11:30 am AEST (9:30 pm ET, 2:30 am London). Covers August 2026 data.
- Consensus
- Not yet published
- Prior
- 3.8% annual (12 months to June 2026)
- Actual
- Pending
Full schedule and background: Australia CPI.
Updated
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) releases its Monthly Consumer Price Index Indicator for August 2026 on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 11:30am AEST, which falls at 9:30pm ET on September 29 and 2:30am in London on September 30. The figure measures how much prices for a broad basket of household goods and services changed in the 12 months to August 2026. Full background and the release schedule for this series sit on the Australia CPI hub page.
What is Australia’s CPI?
The Consumer Price Index tracks the average change in prices paid by households for a fixed basket of goods and services, from groceries and petrol to rent and electricity. When the index rises faster than wages, households can afford less with the same pay, which is why economists call this inflation.
The ABS has published a full Monthly CPI Indicator since late 2022, expanding on the older quarterly CPI that dates back decades. The monthly figure gives the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), businesses and investors a more frequent read on price pressure between the quarterly releases, though the ABS still treats the quarterly CPI as the more complete measure because it covers a larger share of the basket each time.
Markets watch this release closely because it feeds directly into the RBA’s interest rate decisions. A faster than expected rise in prices can make the central bank more cautious about cutting borrowing costs, while a slowdown can open the door to lower rates, which is why traders, mortgage holders and savers all have a stake in the number.
When is the August CPI released?
The ABS publishes the Monthly CPI Indicator on the last Wednesday of the month following the reference month, according to the ABS release schedule. For August 2026 data, that falls on September 30, 2026, at 11:30am Australian Eastern Standard Time. The release is published free on the ABS website under Consumer Price Index, Australia. There is no estimated date attached to this report: the ABS calendar confirms September 30, 2026 as the publication date.
What is the consensus forecast?
A consensus forecast from a major poll of economists has not yet been published for the August 2026 reading, as forecaster surveys for this release typically appear only in the days immediately before publication. The most recent confirmed official figure comes from the ABS’s June 2026 release, which showed the Consumer Price Index rose 3.8% in the 12 months to June 2026, down from 4.0% in the 12 months to May 2026. Housing was the largest single contributor to annual inflation in the most recent quarterly breakdown.
| Measure | Prior | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Headline annual CPI | 3.8% (12 months to June 2026) | Not yet published |
| Housing group annual inflation (quarterly measure) | 6.8% (June quarter 2026) | Not yet published |
What the result could mean
| Scenario | Likely market read | What it means in plain English |
|---|---|---|
| Above consensus | Traders would likely pare back bets on RBA rate cuts and the Australian dollar could firm, since higher than expected inflation typically reduces the chance of near-term easing | Prices are rising faster than expected, which could delay any relief on mortgage rates and squeeze household budgets further |
| In line with consensus | Limited market reaction is likely, as the print would confirm the existing path the RBA and investors already expect | Inflation is behaving broadly as forecasters expected, so the outlook for interest rates and prices probably stays unchanged |
| Below consensus | Markets could increase bets on rate cuts and the Australian dollar may soften, since a cooler reading usually supports the case for easier policy | Price pressures are easing faster than expected, which could eventually feed through to lower borrowing costs |
These are possible reactions based on how markets typically respond to inflation surprises, not predictions of what will happen on the day.
Why does this release matter right now?
The RBA has an inflation target band of 2 to 3% and has been watching annual CPI gradually cool from the highs of recent years. The ABS reported that annual inflation eased to 3.8% in the 12 months to June 2026, down from 4.0% in the 12 months to May 2026, and the June quarter’s official quarterly CPI rose 3.9% over the year with housing, food and transport as the biggest contributors, according to a state treasury summary of the ABS release. Each monthly print is being read as a signal of whether that slowdown is continuing or stalling, which shapes expectations for the RBA’s next cash rate decision. Because Australia’s cash rate influences global capital flows, movements here also affect currency markets and bond yields well beyond Australia’s borders.
What It Means for Your Money
- Mortgages and rates: if inflation surprises higher, the RBA is less likely to cut its cash rate soon, meaning variable mortgage repayments in Australia could stay higher for longer. A weaker reading raises the chance of a future rate cut, which would eventually flow through to lower mortgage repayments.
- Savings: higher for longer interest rates tend to mean better returns on savings accounts and term deposits, while a cooling inflation trend that leads to rate cuts usually means savings rates drift lower over time.
- Jobs and wages: persistent inflation above wage growth erodes real pay, so a hot CPI print can renew pressure on households even if nominal wages are rising.
- Prices you pay: the CPI is a direct measure of the cost of everyday items such as groceries, rent and fuel, so a higher than expected number usually means the cost of living squeeze is not easing as quickly as hoped.
- Investments, pensions and currencies: the Australian dollar and Australian government bond yields typically move on this data because they reflect changing expectations for RBA policy. For readers outside Australia, including in the UK, Europe and Asia, a shift in the Australian dollar can affect the value of Australian assets held in pension funds and portfolios, and Australia’s inflation trend is also watched as one gauge of resource-linked demand across Asia.
Related events
- The quarterly Australian CPI release, published separately by the ABS each quarter, which the RBA treats as its primary inflation gauge.
- The Reserve Bank of Australia’s cash rate decisions, which respond directly to CPI trends.
- Other regional inflation reports, including Japan’s and China’s CPI releases, which shape the broader Asia-Pacific inflation picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the Australia CPI released?
The ABS releases the Monthly CPI Indicator for August 2026 at 11:30am AEST on September 30, 2026, which is 9:30pm ET on September 29 and 2:30am in London on September 30.
How do I read the headline number?
The headline figure shows the percentage change in prices over the 12 months to the reference month; a higher number than the prior reading means inflation is accelerating, while a lower number means it is cooling.
How does this release affect interest rates?
The RBA uses inflation data, alongside the quarterly CPI, to decide whether to raise, hold or cut its cash rate, so a surprise in either direction can shift market expectations for the next rate decision.
Where can I find the official release?
The ABS publishes the full release, including detailed tables, on its website under Consumer Price Index, Australia, at the ABS release calendar.
When is the next Australia CPI release?
The ABS publishes the Monthly CPI Indicator on the last Wednesday of each month following the reference month, so the next release after this one covers September 2026 data and is expected in late October 2026.