A Turning Point for Inflation?

The TD Securities – Melbourne Institute Monthly Inflation Gauge rose by 0.3% in December, following a 0.3% rise in November. In the twelve months to December, the Inflation Gauge rose by 2.6%.  This is a fairly rapid acceleration from the October low of 1.2% y/y, which may well have been a turning point for CPI inflation.  According to the Melbourne Institute, the gauge points to an increase in the December quarter CPI of 0.1%, yielding an annual inflation rate of 1.7%, a pick-up on the 1.3% annual rate seen in the September quarter.  The December quarter CPI is released on 27 January.