Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Mina Al Fajer, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Inflation could be driven into the mid-sixes as early as June, economists predict, as soaring oil prices caused by the Middle East conflict triggersa price hike ripple-effect across commercial enterprises.
Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Mina Al Fajer, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Mina Al Fajer, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)(9News)

Despite ongoing reports of discussions between the United States and Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely to see a swift reopening. This uncertainty surrounding the conflict’s trajectory was highlighted in comments to the Australian Financial Review.

The most recent ABS data, in which the consumer price index eased slightly to 3.7 per cent for the 12 months to February, was down from 3.8 per cent the previous month and slightly lower than what economists were expecting.

It’s important to note that recent economic figures only account for February, thereby missing the inflationary impact triggered by the sharp increase in oil prices and other consequences stemming from the conflict in Iran.

Australia’s four major banks are forecasting a third consecutive rate hike by the Reserve Bank of Australia in May. This would push the cash rate to 4.35 percent as a countermeasure to the escalating inflation rates.

Economists at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) predict that inflation will begin to ease in 2027. This expectation is based on a projected slowdown in demand coupled with a rise in unemployment.

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