Australians hit by soaring petrol prices now face expected blow of interest rate rise

Economists predict RBA board will hike cash rate to 4.1% next week as inflation climbs and energy costs surgeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMillions of Australians could be hit with the twin blow of soaring petrol prices and higher mortgage repayments amid rising expectations that the US-Israel war on Iran will force the Reserve Bank to hike rates on Tuesday.Economists at three investment banks have shifted to now predict that the RBA board will increase the cash rate to 4.1% at the conclusion of its upcoming two-day meeting, after the central bank’s deputy governor, Andrew Hauser, said data had “confirmed even more decisively … that our economy currently has limited spare capacity”. Continue reading...