On Tuesday, 3 February at 2:30pm AEDT, the Reserve Bank of Australia will hand down its first cash rate decision of 2026… and this one is shaping up to be a major moment for households and borrowers.
The latest ABS data shows inflation has jumped to 3.8% in the year to December, well above the RBA’s 2–3% target band. With categories like housing, food and non-alcoholic beverages, and recreation running hot, cost pressures remain elevated across the board.
At the same time, unemployment has dropped from 4.3% to 4.1%, signalling a stronger-than-expected labour market.
A strong job market + rising inflation = more pressure on the RBA to act.
And here’s the big news: All four major banks are now forecasting a rate hike.
If the RBA does lift rates — just five months after cutting in August — it would mark one of the fastest policy reversals in years.
Join Ben Kingsley and Evan Lucas LIVE from 2:20pm AEDT as they unpack what’s driving these conditions and what this could mean for your money, your loan, and your financial decisions heading into the rest of 2026.
Click the video above to join us at 2:20PM AEDT on Tuesday 3 February.
If the stream hasn’t appeared by 2:30PM, just refresh this page or head to our YouTube channel to watch the announcement.
