SYDNEY, Oct 22, 2014 (AFP) - Australian consumer prices rose 0.5 percent in the three months to September, official figures showed Wednesday, as the annual rate of inflation eased after the removal of a controversial carbon tax.
The increase in the consumer price index (CPI) in the third quarter was slightly stronger than economists' estimates of 0.4 percent.
The new figures took the annual rate of inflation to 2.3 percent, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said, down from 3.0 percent in the year to June. The year-on-year rate matched analysts' projections.
The softer number keeps inflation within the Reserve Bank of Australia's target range of 2.0 to 3.0 percent and gives the central bank room to maintain its record-low interest rate of 2.5 percent.
"There's no smoking gun here for the RBA to change their guidance, giving them some time (to maintain) a period of stability at the present time," Citi's chief economist for Australia Paul Brennan told AFP.
The CPI rise was supported by a 14.7 percent jump in the price of fruit, as well as increases in new property purchases by owner-occupiers, property rates and charges and motor vehicle service fees.
Electricity prices dropped by 5.1 percent and petrol costs slipped by 2.5 percent.
Underlying or core inflation, which strips out volatile items and is more closely watched by the Reserve Bank, came in at 0.5 percent for the third quarter for an annual rate of 2.55 percent.
The Australian dollar fell slightly before recovering to trade at 87.65 US cents.
Australia's central bank has kept the cash rate at 2.5 percent since its last cut in August 2013 to stimulate the non-mining sectors of the economy amid an expected sharp fall-off in resources investment following an unprecedented boom.
Economists said the weakness in some components of the data reflected the current challenges facing the Australian economy as wages growth remains slow and consumer demand stays subdued.
The Australian data came amid fears over eurozone deflation, downgrades in global growth and falling commodity prices. But analysts said deflation was less of a concern in Australia, as the recent declines in the local currency could lift the prices of some imported goods.
"The risk would seem to be that inflation remains well contained from here, however, there are several factors working in the opposite direction," HSBC's chief economist for Australia Paul Bloxham said.
"The lower (Australian dollar) will exert further upwards pressure on tradable inflation, increasing the cost of imports such as household goods, food and clothing, and partly offsetting the impact of lower oil prices."
A surprised jump in inflation in the fourth-quarter of 2013 had increased market expectations of a rise in the cash rate, but softer CPI numbers since then have eased pressure on the Reserve Bank to tighten monetary policy.
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