Interest rates have been low for so long it’s tempting to think low rates are the new normal. So when the Reserve Bank suggests that a cash rate of 3.5 per cent is the new ‘neutral’, people take notice. Even the Prime Minister warned Australian householders to prepare for higher interest rates ahead.ⁱ

The official cash rate has been held at a record low of 1.5 per cent since August 2016, but in recent months the Reserve Bank has begun preparing the ground for higher rates. The Reserve Bank says it now considers the ‘neutral’ cash rate to be 3.5 per cent. Neutral is central bank-speak for the sweet spot where growth is supported without pushing inflation too high.

Then in a speech on July 26, Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe made it clear that rates will only rise once there’s a gradual lift in wages growth and inflation.ⁱⁱ As things stand, he’s in no hurry.

Wages, inflation keep rates low

Annual wages growth is currently running at below 2 per cent, which means many workers are standing still after inflation is taken into account. The annual rate of inflation eased from 2.1 per cent to 1.9 per cent in the June quarter, below the central bank’s 2-3 per cent target band.

The central bank is also reluctant to put more pressure on borrowers while household debt grows faster than income. The level of household debt to income has increased from about 148 per cent in 2012 to a record 190 per cent in March 2017. For households with a mortgage, the figure is closer to 300 per cent.

So what can you do to make the most of today’s low rates and soften the impact of higher rates in future?

Quit the bad debt habit

Make the most of low interest rates to pay down expensive debt such as credit cards and personal loans. Credit card interest rates begin at around 12 per cent and rise to as much as 20 per cent on popular rewards cards.

One strategy is to consolidate personal debts into your mortgage and save up to 15 per cent in interest. You also need to increase repayments on your mortgage, otherwise you could be paying off your credit cards for 20 years or more.

Lock in fixed rates

If you have a mortgage and an increase in interest rates would blow a hole in your budget, then think about fixing all or part of your loan.

The best fixed rates for two and three-year terms are currently around 4 per cent, not much more than the best variable rates on offer.

Bear in mind that fixed loans are less flexible than variable loans. You can’t make extra repayments or redraw funds and there are penalties for exiting a fixed loan early, even if it’s to sell your home. One popular solution is to split your loan into fixed and variable amounts for peace of mind with the flexibility to make extra repayments or redraw funds if necessary.

Make extra repayments

If you have a variable rate mortgage, then it’s a good strategy to use any extra savings or lump sums to reduce your loan while rates are at historic lows.

You can tip this money into an offset account where it will reduce the interest you pay, but this only works if you’re disciplined and avoid the temptation to dip into your offset account for everyday spending. You may be better off making additional ongoing or one-off loan repayments; they will still be available for a rainy day if you choose a loan with a redraw facility.

Catch the rising tide

Higher interest rates are not all bad news. If you’re a saver or depend on income from investments, higher rates can’t come quick enough.

If you would like to discuss ways to reduce debt or grow your savings and investments, don’t hesitate to call.

i ‘Prepare for interest rates to climb, Malcolm Turnbull warns’, by David Ross, The New Daily 20 July 2017, https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2017/07/20/malcolm-turnbull-warning-interest-rates/

ii “The labour market and monetary policy’, speech by RBA Governor Philip Lowe, 26 July 2017, https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2017/sp-gov-2017-07-26.html