INTEREST rates could be set to rise again in April after Australians return from their Easter break.
Home borrowers are still dealing with March’s rate increase, on top of three hikes at the end of 2009.
With the economy gathering strength, some experts expect the Reserve Bank to put up rates when it next meets, on April 6.
National Australia Bank chief economist Alan Oster says the Australian economy is expanding more rapidly than expected.
“Over 2010, we now expect soaring bulk commodity prices to bolster economic growth and push unemployment down to four per cent or lower,” he said in a note to clients.
“Against this backdrop there is little doubt that the Reserve Bank will wish to rapidly unwind its current expansionary policy settings.”
Reserve Bank assistant governor Guy Debelle’s speech to the Australian Mortgage Innovation Forum tomorrow will be closely watched for clues on the next possible rate move.
Official data on retail sales and building approvals for February, both due out on Wednesday, are not expected to have a major bearing on the Reserve Bank’s thinking for April.
Unlike NAB, the Commonwealth Bank expects policy makers to leave rates on hold in April.