Inflation Australia 1988

Average inflation: 7.2%

Current Inflation

Inflation is very high at 7.2%, far above the ECB target.

Peak and Trough

The highest inflation was in November at 7.6%. The lowest inflation was in February at 6.8%.

Highest month
November: 7.6%
Lowest month
February: 6.8%
Difference
0.8 percentage points
Months with data
4 of 12

Historical Context

Current inflation is around the 5-year average of 7.1%.

5-year average
7.1%
10-year average
8.6%
All-time high (1974)
15.4%
All-time low (1969)
3.3%

Trend

Inflation shows a downward trend. Compared to 1987, inflation has fallen by +1.4 percentage point.

Change vs. previous year
-1.4 percentage points
Largest monthly swing
February: -2.6 percentage points

ECB Target

Inflation is 5.2% above the ECB target of 2.0%. This means purchasing power is declining faster than intended.

Purchasing Power

At this high inflation rate, purchasing power rapidly decreases. This has a major impact on households, especially without adequate salary increases.

What you could buy for €100 this year will cost approximately €107.20 next year at this inflation rate.

Multi-year trend

Monthly figures 1988

Month overview

Month Inflation Difference vs. 1987
February 6.8% -2.6
May 7.2% -2.1
August 7.3% -1.0
November 7.6% +0.4
Average 7.2%

Data source

Data from OECD. Last updated: 24/11/2025.Not all months available yet.

See also