The CPI and the RBA’s Backward-Looking Bias

I have an op-ed in today’s Canberra Times arguing for a monthly CPI for Australia (full text below the fold):

This lack of timeliness in compiling and releasing inflation data gives monetary policy a backward-looking bias.  Around 45 per cent of the changes in the official interest rate since 1990 have been announced at the Board meeting immediately following the quarterly CPI release.  During the 2002-08 tightening episode, 67 per cent of rate hikes followed this pattern, including every one of the six tightenings between May 2006 and February 2008.

Today saw the release of the TD Securities-Melbourne Institute Monthly Inflation Gauge, which rose by 0.1% in February, following a 0.8% rise in January and a 0.3%  rise in December 2009. In the twelve months to February, the Inflation Gauge rose by 1.9%. The trimmed mean measure rose by 0.1%, to be 2.0% higher than a year ago.  The gauge points to a 1% rise in the March quarter CPI for an annual rate of 3%.

As I note in the op-ed, the Melbourne Institute has stopped publishing the index numbers for the gauge, limiting its usefulness and going very much against the spirit of its creators and sponsors.  However, for those who need it, Annette Beacher advises the index number for February is 123.45.

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posted on 01 March 2010 by skirchner in Economics, Financial Markets, Monetary Policy

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