RBA hints at higher bank rate

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has advised those with  that interest rates could be set to rise again at some point over the coming months, amid concerns over rising inflation fuelled by the recent resources boom.

Minutes from the RBA's most recent meeting were published this week and suggested that renewed normalisation of fiscal policy may be on the horizon, although they suggested the central bank would continue to monitor economic expansion.

"Members judged that if economic conditions continued to evolve as expected, higher interest rates were likely to be required at some point if inflation was to remain consistent with the medium-term target," the document stated.

The RBA noted that first-quarter consumer price index data had exceeded expectations, although it had come after a lower-than-anticipated reading over the preceding three months.

Commodity prices were also singled out as a cause for long-term worry, although the group acknowledged that rising costs had supported real Australian incomes and provided a surge of investment into the country's resources sector.

In a speech in Sydney today (May 17th 2011), Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson predicted that the Australian dollar would remain elevated "for some time", adding to inflationary pressures at a challenging time for the economic recovery.

The currency has gained 21 per cent over the last year, driven higher in part by the seven base rate hikes implemented by the Reserve Bank Board since October 2009. However, the panel has held rates at 4.75 per cent since November.

Mr Parkinson - who is also the head of the Australian Office of Financial Management - told the Australian Business Economists forum that the economy remained "in transition" but benefited from low unemployment and a stable financial system.

Figures published by the RBA recently revealed that Australia's total  debt had hit $49.3 billion, enough to cover the cost of 170,000 average mortgages.