The Reserve Bank of Australia is preparing to announce its latest monetary policy decision today, Tuesday, August 11, with millions of Australian households, borrowers and businesses watching closely for any change to interest rates. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s Monetary Policy Board is meeting on August 10 and 11, with the official decision scheduled to be released at 2:30pm AEST today.

The RBA’s current cash rate target is 4.35 per cent, with that rate having remained in place since the previous decision on June 16. The central bank’s official schedule confirms that the August monetary policy decision and Statement on Monetary Policy are due to be released at 2:30pm AEST, followed by the Governor’s media conference at 3:30pm AEST.

Today’s decision is particularly important for Australian mortgage holders because changes to the cash rate can influence variable home-loan rates, borrowing costs, deposits and wider financial conditions. The RBA explains that the cash rate influences other interest rates throughout the economy, including mortgage and deposit rates.

The August meeting comes as Australians continue to deal with higher borrowing costs and cost-of-living pressures. Recent economic data has also kept attention focused on inflation. The RBA’s latest available figures show annual consumer price inflation at 3.8 per cent for June 2026, according to the central bank’s published economic information.

The outlook for today’s decision has been closely watched by financial markets and economists. Recent reporting has suggested that the RBA could leave the cash rate unchanged, although the possibility of another increase later in the year remains part of the economic debate. News reports published ahead of the meeting have highlighted the importance of the Bank maintaining pressure on inflation while also considering economic growth and household finances.

Competition between Australian lenders is also an important part of the mortgage market. Recent industry reporting says a growing number of lenders are offering variable mortgage rates below 6 per cent, despite expectations that the RBA could keep the possibility of further rate increases open. This means borrowers may continue comparing home-loan offers even while the official cash rate remains unchanged.

The impact of today's decision will not be limited to homeowners. The RBA says monetary policy affects economic activity, employment and inflation, meaning changes to interest rates can influence businesses, consumers, savers and borrowers across Australia.

For mortgage holders, the key figure to watch is the official cash rate announced by the RBA at 2:30pm AEST. If the Bank changes the rate, lenders will assess how and when to pass that change through to their customers. If the rate is left unchanged, borrowers will still be watching the RBA's statement and Governor Michele Bullock's comments for clues about future decisions.

The RBA's decision will therefore be closely followed throughout Australia today. Searches such as “RBA interest rate decision August 2026”, “RBA cash rate today”, “Australia interest rates today”, “RBA decision time”, “mortgage rates Australia” and “RBA August 2026” are likely to attract attention as the announcement approaches.

This article should be updated immediately after the official 2:30pm AEST announcement so that the final cash-rate decision and the RBA's explanation can be added accurately.