In a data light week, the focus will likely be on local survey data, outside of international developments.
- On Tuesday, Westpac consumer confidence for February prints. In January it fell 0.7% m/m to 92.1 but it may rise in February as there have been increased expectations voiced in the mainstream media of a rate cut at the RBA’s February meeting.
- The NAB business survey for January is also out on Tuesday. Confidence has been oscillating around the zero mark over the last 12 months. Conditions on the other hand have been trending lower since Q4 2023 and printed at +6 in December. Cost and price components will be monitored with purchase costs trending higher since October.
- Wednesday sees the new ABS quarterly lending data for Q4. The monthly series were discontinued after the September figures were released.
- Melbourne Institute consumer inflation expectations for February are published on Thursday. In January they eased 0.2pp to 4.0%. The lower-than-expected Q4 core CPI data may pressure it lower but petrol prices are higher in February compared with end-January.
- There are no RBA events this week ahead of the February 18 decision.