FX.co ★ Australia Inflation Gauge Drops for First Time in 6 Months

Australia’s Monthly Inflation Gauge, compiled by the Melbourne Institute, declined 0.2% month-on-month in February 2026, reversing the 0.2% increase recorded in January and marking the first fall since August. The result underscores the progress made in bringing inflation down over the past year, even as renewed price pressures re-emerged in the second half of 2025 amid elevated service costs and a tight labor market. In January, annual inflation was unchanged at 3.8%, holding steady from the previous month but still above the Reserve Bank’s 2–3% target range.