the Reserve Bank of Australia failed to give mortgage holders an early Christmas "gift," maintaining the interest rate unchanged at the final meeting of the year. In the widely expected and unanimously approved decision on Tuesday, the Monetary Policy Committee kept the cash rate at 3.6%. Inflation rebounded in the second half of 2025, breaking market hopes for further rate cuts. Since February this year, the Reserve Bank of Australia has cumulatively cut rates by 75 basis points. The interest rate market and most economists now believe that the RBA's easing cycle has ended. Some analysts point out that if inflationary pressures continue to rise, the central bank may be forced to raise rates as early as February next year. Domain's Chief Economist Nicola Powell stated that the reversal of rate expectations may help ease the pressure from the rapid rise in housing market prices over the past year.