Australia’s consumer price inflation slowed markedly in the second quarter of 2026, with the quarter‑over‑quarter CPI rising 0.6%, down from 1.4% in the first quarter. The latest data, updated on 29 July 2026, point to a clear cooling in near-term price momentum across the economy.
The previous reading, recorded for the first quarter of 2026, had shown a 1.4% quarter‑over‑quarter increase compared with the final quarter of 2025. In contrast, the second‑quarter figure of 0.6% reflects a much softer pace of price growth when measured against the first quarter of 2026.
On a quarter‑over‑quarter basis, the data indicate that inflationary pressures are easing, which could influence expectations around the future path of interest rates and broader monetary policy. Investors and policymakers will be watching upcoming releases closely to determine whether this moderation in CPI becomes a sustained trend through the second half of 2026.
