Black Friday sales blitz muddying interest rate signals for RBA

The growth of rampant pre-Christmas sales periods such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday is distorting economic data and making it more difficult for the Reserve Bank of Australia to read the pulse of consumer spending and inflation.

Economists said the RBA would need to brush off the two-year-high consumer spending spree, driven by a rush of shoppers taking advantage of late November sales from online retailers such as Amazon, Shein and Temu, ahead of its pivotal interest rate decision in February.

Source: https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/black-friday-sales-blitz-muddying-interest-rate-signals-for-rba-20260112-p5nt9x