Peter Hannam

Economists had tipped CPI growth for the March quarter of 0.8%, and an annual inflation rate of 3.5%

Australia's inflation rate slowed less than expected in the March quarter, dimming hopes the cost of living crunch was easing and chances of a 2024 cut in official interest rates.

The March-quarter figure makes a cut less likely. Still, the Reserve Bank will probably give more weight to how quickly it can get to its target range

The environment minister says she is approving windfarms at the fastest rate in history amid industry concerns about an ‘alarming’ slowdown

The decision to keep the ageing power station operating for up to four more years could cost the government as much as $150m a year

The New South Wales government will announce within days it will extend the operations of Australia's biggest coal-fired power station for as long as four years.

With hopes for a rate cut gone, there is speculation of another rise before the end of 2024. What factors will sway the Reserve Bank’s decision?

Economics correspondent Peter Hannam tells Nour Haydar what the Reserve Bank’s reaction might be

‘We want to be the guardrails at the top of the cliff, not the ambulance at the bottom’, says Salvation Army executive