These activities are designed for primary-aged children and run during the school holidays. The program includes an interactive presentation where children will learn about Australia's banknotes, including how they are made and their security features, as well as learning about Australia's history through the lives of the people that feature on the banknotes. There is also a treasure map activity to explore the Museum.

The Chart Pack summarises macroeconomic and financial market trends in Australia and provides some information about developments for our main trading partners. The graphs in the Chart Pack are updated monthly. While the Reserve Bank of Australia does not publish the source data for the Chart Pack graphs, extensive statistical data are available on our website.

Browse the left-hand navigation to choose the graph subject category. You can then view or download the graphs individually.

Release date: 2 September 2019

Preliminary estimates for August indicate that the index decreased by 6.5 per cent (on a monthly average basis) in SDR terms, after increasing by 3.1 per cent in July (revised). The non-rural, rural and base metals subindices decreased in the month. In Australian dollar terms, the index decreased by 4.2 per cent in August.

Over the past year, the index has increased by 6.2 per cent in SDR terms, led by higher iron ore, gold and beef & veal prices. The index has increased by 13.1 per cent in Australian dollar terms.

Consistent with previous releases, preliminary estimates for iron ore, coking coal, thermal coal and LNG export prices are being used for the most recent months, based on market information. Using spot prices for the bulk commodities, the index decreased by 13.1 per cent in August in SDR terms, to be 0.7 per cent higher over the past year.

For further details regarding the construction of the...

This corporate plan is prepared for 2019/20 in accordance with section 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and covers the reporting periods from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2023.

The accountable authority of the Reserve Bank of Australia is the Governor.

This corporate plan outlines the key functions and purposes of the Bank and, in relation to each of those functions and purposes, sets out:

From this release onward, the financial aggregates incorporate an improved conceptual framework and a new data collection. This is referred to as the Economic and Financial Statistics (EFS) collection. For more information, see Updates to Australia’s Financial Aggregates. All growth rates have been adjusted for the effects of series breaks resulting from these changes. Minor revisions to the historical growth rates of the financial aggregates reflect improvements in the RBA’s seasonal adjustment processes. Revisions to the historical growth rates of the money aggregates – specifically M3 and Broad Money – also reflect methodological improvements to their production.

The implementation of the EFS collection has led to larger-than-usual movements in the levels of the outstanding stocks of series published in the table Lending and Credit Aggregates – D2 between June and July 2019. In particular, the EFS collection seeks to resolve ambiguity about the classification...

When I started my working life here in Canberra at the Treasury just over 30 years ago, one of the most prominent macroeconomic issues was the current account deficit. Heated discussions took place about twin deficits, banana republics, consenting adults and whether or not the current account should be an objective for monetary policy. Early on in my Treasury career, in between my radio shows on 2XX, I worked in the Balance of Payments section. There was a whole unit devoted to analysing and forecasting the current account deficit, given its prominence in the economic and political debate.

Today, three decades on and back in Canberra, I am going to again focus on the current account balance and Australia's external position. But the rationale for doing so today is quite different to that in the 1980s. Today, the current account deficit is the smallest it has been as a share of the economy since the 1970s and the trade surplus is about the largest it has...

Our series of Topical Talks provide opportunities for educators to enhance their understanding of economic concepts and developments in the Australian economy through hearing insights from an economist on a relevant topic. The talks are aimed at a range of educators, from secondary school to the tertiary sector.

Philip Lowe (Governor and Chair), Guy Debelle (Deputy Governor), Mark Barnaba AM, Wendy Craik AM, Philip Gaetjens, Ian Harper, Allan Moss AO, Catherine Tanna

Members granted leave of absence to Carol Schwartz AO in terms of section 18A of the Reserve Bank Act 1959.