Australia’s annual inflation jumped to 4.6% in March 2026 from 3.7% in the prior month, marking the highest reading since September 2023, and staying above the central bank’s 2–3% target, though slightly below market forecasts of 4.8%. Goods inflation picked up (5.5% vs 3.5% in February), due to a sharp rebound in transport costs (8.9% vs -0.2%) as fuel prices surged amid rising oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict. Additional upward pressures came from food (3.1% vs 3.1%), alcohol and tobacco (3.1% vs 4.3%), housing (6.5% vs 7.3%), clothing (7.1% vs 4.9%), furnishings (1.4% vs 1.3%), communications (1.4% vs 0.8%), recreation (2.8% vs 4.0%), and financial services (2.8% vs 2.4%). Meanwhile, services inflation eased to 3.6% from 3.9%, partly reflecting lower pharmaceutical costs. The trimmed mean CPI rose 3.3% yoy, in line with expectations. Monthly, CPI accelerated 1.1% after being flat in February, marking the fastest pace since July 2025, but less than estimates of 1.3%.