A deteriorating economic outlook sparked the latest interest rate cut, but the Reserve Bank remains concerned about the continued strength of house prices and investor activity in some pockets of the housing market.

The minutes of the RBA’s February meeting, show the board decided to cut Australia’s cash rate to a new record low of 2.25 per cent after new figures revealed the economy wasn’t doing as well as was previously expected.

But the bank also remained concerned about the continued strength of the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets.

“Housing price inflation had moderated from the rapid rates seen in late 2013, but remained high and in Sydney and Melbourne had been well above the growth rate of household income,” the RBA said.

The RBA said growth of investor credit had continued to increase “at a noticeably faster rate” than owner-occupier housing credit.

And a range of indicators suggested further growth of dwelling investment in the near term, the bank said.

The RBA said it would keep a close eye on developments in the housing market, as well as the impact of moves late last year by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, designed to temper investor activity.

“Given the large increases in housing prices in some cities and ongoing strength in lending to investors in housing assets, members also agreed that developments in the housing market would bear careful monitoring,” the RBA said.

“They noted that it would be important to assess the effects of the measures designed to reinforce sound residential mortgage lending practices announced by APRA in December.”

Despite the housing concerns, the RBA said it decided to cut the cash rate after indicators of economic growth began to look weaker than it previously expected them to be.

Economic growth was expected to pick up later than the RBA expected, while unemployment looked set to peak higher than originally forecast.

The central bank also took another swipe at the Australian dollar, repeating its familiar line that “a lower exchange rate was likely to be needed to achieve balanced growth in the economy”.

The RBA said it had considered acting at the March meeting instead but decided to cut in February, giving the opportunity for more detailed communication of its decision in the quarterly Statement on Monetary Policy, released three days after the February 3 meeting.

“On the basis of their assessment of current conditions and taking into account the revised forecasts, the board judged that a further reduction in the cash rate would be appropriate to provide additional support to demand,” the minutes said.

 

By Belinda Merhab