Cash Rate Target Overview (2024)

What is the cash rate?

The cash rate is the interest rate that banks pay to borrow funds from other banks inthe money market overnight. It influences all other interest rates, including mortgage and deposit rates.

In technical terms, it is the interest rate on unsecured overnight loans between banks(loans banks use to manage their liquidity). It is our operational targetfor the implementation of monetary policy.

Learn more about the cash rate target

How do we keep the cash rate close to the target?

Banks can deposit funds with the Reserve Bank overnight and earn a little below the targetcash rate. Banks can also borrow funds from the Reserve Bank at a little above the targetcash rate. The cash rate trades inside this corridor, and the Reserve Bank can also transactin Australia’s money markets to affect the supply and demand for cash to steer the cash rateclose to the target.

Learn more about how the Reserve Bank implements monetary policy

Who makes the decision?

The Reserve Bank Board decides whether to change or maintain the cash rate target. The Boardcomprises the Governor, Deputy Governor, Secretary to the Australian Treasury and six othermembers appointed by the Treasurer.

Learn about the role, meetings and members of the Reserve Bank Board

How often does the Reserve Bank Board meet to decide the cash rate?

The Board meets eight times a year to consider monetary policy settings. These meetingsfollow the release of key economic data on inflation and economic activity.

View our calendar of important releases

How is the cash rate target announced?

We publish the Monetary Policy Decision media release and cash rate target on our websiteand to the money market at 2.30 pm (Sydney time) after each Board meeting.Many news outlets report this important decision in real time.

How does the decision affect you?

The cash rate has a strong influence over interest rates in the economy, such aslending and deposit rates. In turn, these interest rates influence economic activity,employment and inflation. This affects all Australians, not just those with a mortgage.

Learn more about the transmission of monetary policy.

What are our monetary policy objectives?

We work to support the stability of the currency, full employment, and the economic prosperity andwelfare of the people of Australia.

About monetary policy

What guides the Reserve Bank Board?

The Board uses a framework agreed with the government to guide its monetary policydecisions. This framework has two objectives: to keep consumer price inflation between 2 and3percent and to achieve sustained full employment.

The Board takes into consideration a wide range of factors, including domestic and internationaleconomic and financial conditions, along with the outlook for economic growth and inflation inAustralia.

These considerations are published after each Board meeting in a Monetary Policy Decisionmedia release and four times a year in the Statement on Monetary Policy.

Learn more about the inflation target

View the Bank’s Statement on Monetary Policy

Read the Bank’s Monetary Policy Decisions