RBA unlikely to raise cash rates before Q4 2019 - Bloomberg survey

A majority of economists polled by Bloomberg do not expect the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to hike rates before the fourth quarter of 2019.

A month ago, economists were expecting the RBA to deliver the first rate hike in the third quarter of next year. Essentially, the forecast for the timing of the lift-off has been pushed out by a quarter.

This should not come as a surprise as the unexpected mortgage rate hike by major Australian lenders, coupled with escalating US-China trade tensions are seen complicating matters for the RBA.