Why Has Retail Inflation Been So Low?

Alexander Ballantyne and Sean Langcake
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Alexander Ballantyne: Reserve Bank of Australia
Sean Langcake: Reserve Bank of Australia

RBA Bulletin (Print copy discontinued), 2016, 9-18

Abstract: Inflation in the price of retail goods has been surprisingly low for a number of years. The considerable depreciation of the Australian dollar over this period by itself would typically have led to higher retail inflation. This article considers whether the direct relationship between the exchange rate and retail inflation has changed, or if other developments in the retail supply chain can account for recent trends in retail inflation. There is little statistical evidence that the relationship between the exchange rate and retail inflation has changed. Discussions with retailers in the Reserve Bank’s business liaison program suggest that an intensification of competition in the retail sector and firms’ efforts to reduce costs along their supply chain are likely to have contributed to low retail inflation.

Keywords: Inflation; retail goods; retail sector; exchange rate pass through; competition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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