All-important CPI figures to be released today in Australia

January 25, 2017

A relatively quiet day of announcements compared to the rest of the week sees our focus turn locally, where Australia will be announcing some key figures.

Australia is releasing its crucial CPI & Trimmed Mean CPI data. CPI data is vital to the Australian economy as it is a key driver of inflation in the economy. A stronger CPI figure indicates a strengthening of consumer demand for products and services. This demand leads to increased prices for products and services sold, which in turn drives up inflation. Inflation is a key tool that is used to help determine monetary policy. If inflation starts to increase too much or too fast, the central bank steps in to increase interest rates. This increase in rates helps temper demand as it is now more expensive for people to borrow money to make purchases. Trimmed Mean CPI is the CPI figure minus the most volatile 30% of items.

Elsewhere, Switzerland are releasing UBS Consumption Indicator data, Germany is releasing important Ifo Business Climate data, the UK is announcing CBI Industrial Order Expectations figures and Europe is announcing Belgian Business Climate data. Finally, the US is set to release its HPI (House Price Index) & Crude Oil Inventories.