Australia’s GDP Chain Price Index slowed notably in the first quarter of 2026, rising 0.8% compared with 1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to data updated on 3 June 2026. The indicator, which tracks changes in prices across the whole economy, points to a moderation in broad-based price pressures at the start of the year.
The deceleration from late-2025 levels suggests that the earlier momentum in economy-wide prices has weakened. While the data do not detail the sectoral drivers behind the shift, the cooler reading in the first quarter of 2026 may influence how investors and policymakers assess the trajectory of underlying inflation pressures in Australia.
With the latest figures confirming a slower pace of price growth compared with the end of 2025, markets are likely to watch upcoming quarters closely to see whether this easing in the GDP Chain Price Index marks the beginning of a more sustained trend or a temporary pause in price acceleration.
