Regime: Transition
Updated 27 Sept 2026

Transition regime persists as inflation overshoot meets trend growth

Australia remains in Transition on 27 September 2026, with trimmed mean inflation at 3.6% – still 1.1 percentage points above the RBA's 2–3% inflation target band – while GDP growth has slowed to trend at 2.1% YoY. Continuation of Transition is the single most likely outcome at 56.4%, though a 35.3% probability of an adverse shift to stagflation reflects risk from persistently elevated inflation, softening labour markets, and stressed consumer sentiment. System health remains strong at 92/100, but Consumer sentiment scores just 35/100 (stressed) and manufacturing activity is weakening.

General economic intelligence only — not personal financial advice.
Growth
+0.7% y/y
Real GDP per capita
Q2 2026
Prices
+3.6%
Trimmed-mean inflation
Jul 2026
Labour
4.6%
Unemployment rate
Aug 2026
Policy
4.35%
RBA cash rate
Aug 2026
Credit
7.4% y/y
Household credit growth
Jul 2026
External
0.7166
AUD/USD
Aug 2026
Labour01

↑ Employment rose 39.5k in Aug 2026

Demand02

↑ Retail sales rose 7.0% in Jul 2026

Prices03

– Trimmed mean inflation was unchanged at 3.6% in Jul 2026

Why it matters

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Business

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Markets

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Public macro evidence

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Four stable relationships explain the current configuration. Source, observation period and freshness remain inspectable; no missing series is replaced with a synthetic proxy.

Growth & living standards

Is economic growth improving living standards?

Common base = 100 · official quarterly observations

Real GDP114.5Q2 2026
GDP per capita104.2Q2 2026
Real GDPGDP per capitaHover or focus a period
Is economic growth improving living standards?Common base = 100 · official quarterly observations. Latest available readings are listed above the chart. Each period can be inspected using pointer or keyboard focus.9099108117Real GDP 114.5GDP per capita 104.2Q4 2019Q1 2023Q2 2026
Since the common base, aggregate output is above 100 while output per person is above 100.
CurrentQ2 2026 · 2 linked official series · Australian Bureau of Statistics

Real GDP

As of Q2 2026 · Australian Bureau of Statistics · Next release 2 Dec 2026

Series
Real GDP (ANA_AGG/M2.GPM.20.AUS.Q)
Source
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Retrieved
2 Sept 2026
Next release
2 Dec 2026
Frequency
quarterly

GDP per capita

As of Q2 2026 · Australian Bureau of Statistics · Next release 2 Dec 2026

Series
GDP per capita (ANA_AGG/M1.GPM_PCA.20.AUS.Q)
Source
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Retrieved
2 Sept 2026
Next release
2 Dec 2026
Frequency
quarterly
Inflation persistence

Is inflation returning sustainably to target?

Annual change, % · matched official observations

Trimmed mean3.6%Jul 2026
Services3.7%Jul 2026
Trimmed meanServicesRBA targetHover or focus a period
Is inflation returning sustainably to target?Annual change, % · matched official observations. Latest available readings are listed above the chart. Each period can be inspected using pointer or keyboard focus.-3.3%0.5%4.2%8.0%Trimmed mean 3.6%Services 3.7%Q2 2019Q1 2024Jul 2026
Underlying or services inflation remains above the RBA target band, indicating persistence in domestic price pressure.
CurrentJul 2026 · 2 linked official series · Australian Bureau of Statistics

Trimmed mean inflation

As of Jul 2026 · Australian Bureau of Statistics · Next release 30 Sept 2026

Series
Trimmed mean inflation (CPI/3.999902.20.50.M)
Source
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Retrieved
26 Aug 2026
Next release
30 Sept 2026
Frequency
monthly

Services inflation

As of Jul 2026 · Australian Bureau of Statistics · Next release 30 Sept 2026

Series
Services inflation (CPI/3.104104.10.50.M)
Source
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Retrieved
26 Aug 2026
Next release
30 Sept 2026
Frequency
monthly
Labour-market slack

Is labour-market slack beginning to rise?

Share of the labour force, % · official monthly observations

Unemployment4.6%Aug 2026
Underemployment6.2%Aug 2026
UnemploymentUnderemploymentHover or focus a period
Is labour-market slack beginning to rise?Share of the labour force, % · official monthly observations. Latest available readings are listed above the chart. Each period can be inspected using pointer or keyboard focus.3.1%4.5%5.8%7.1%Unemployment 4.6%Underemployment 6.2%May 2023Dec 2024Aug 2026
Unemployment and underemployment together show the breadth of spare labour capacity.
CurrentAug 2026 · 2 linked official series · Australian Bureau of Statistics

Unemployment rate

As of Aug 2026 · Australian Bureau of Statistics · Next release 15 Oct 2026

Series
Unemployment rate (LF/M13.3.1599.20.AUS.M)
Source
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Retrieved
24 Sept 2026
Next release
15 Oct 2026
Frequency
monthly

Underemployment rate

As of Aug 2026 · Australian Bureau of Statistics · Next release 15 Oct 2026

Series
Underemployment rate (LF_UNDER/M23.3.1599.20.AUS.M)
Source
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Retrieved
24 Sept 2026
Next release
15 Oct 2026
Frequency
monthly
Credit & household capacity

Are credit and real household income moving together?

Year-ended change, % · matched quarter-end observations

Household credit7.5%Jun 2026 · matched quarter
Real disposable income2.3%Jun 2026 · matched quarter
Household creditReal disposable incomeHover or focus a period
Are credit and real household income moving together?Year-ended change, % · matched quarter-end observations. Latest available readings are listed above the chart. Each period can be inspected using pointer or keyboard focus.-4.9%-0.3%4.2%8.8%Household credit 7.5%Real disposable income 2.3%Jun 2023Dec 2024Jun 2026
Nominal credit growth is running above real household income growth, leaving demand and debt service more sensitive to rates.
CurrentJun 2026 · 2 linked official series · Reserve Bank of Australia

Household credit growth

As of Jul 2026 · Reserve Bank of Australia · Next release 30 Sept 2026

Series
Household credit growth (d1/DGFACH12)
Source
Reserve Bank of Australia
Retrieved
31 Aug 2026
Next release
30 Sept 2026
Frequency
monthly

Real household disposable income growth

As of Jun 2026 · Reserve Bank of Australia · Next release 2 Dec 2026

Series
Real household disposable income growth (h2/GGDPICHRDIY)
Source
Reserve Bank of Australia
Retrieved
3 Sept 2026
Next release
2 Dec 2026
Frequency
quarterly
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