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Australia news live: ski fields reach July temperature high; diesel prices surge

Ski fields in Australia reached record-breaking temperatures on Saturday, while diesel prices surged 15 cents a litre in five days due to the conflict in Iran.

By Penry Buckley·Jul 18·theguardian.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

Australia news live: ski fields reach July temperature high; diesel prices surge
Image: theguardian.com

Australia's ski fields have reached record-breaking temperatures, while diesel prices have risen 15 cents a litre in five days due to the conflict in Iran.

Why it matters

The rising diesel prices could lead to an interest rate hike from the Reserve Bank, adding to inflation and increasing the chance of a rate rise.

Imagine you're driving a car, and the price of the fuel you put in it goes up. That's what's happening in Australia right now, with diesel prices rising 15 cents a litre in five days. This is because of a conflict in Iran that's affecting the global oil prices. It's like a big chain reaction, where the rising oil prices make it more expensive to make fuel, and then the fuel prices go up for people like you and me.

Analysis

A $60B Vote of Confidence

The Australian government's decision to extend the excise cut on fuel is a vote of confidence in the economy. The move is expected to add to inflation, increasing the chance of an interest rate hike from the Reserve Bank. The Reserve Bank has been betting on a 65% chance of a hike by December, up from about 50% a week earlier.

Why Cursor?

The conflict in Iran has lifted global oil prices, pushing up wholesale prices for diesel and petrol. The rising oil costs have pushed up diesel prices, with service stations passing the increase on to motorists. Diesel prices have risen from 192.8 to 209.9 cents per litre from Monday to Saturday in Melbourne, according to MotorMouth average data.

The Road Ahead

The Reserve Bank is expected to keep a close eye on the economy, with the rising diesel prices adding to inflation. The bank has been betting on a 65% chance of a hike by December, up from about 50% a week earlier. The government's decision to extend the excise cut on fuel is a vote of confidence in the economy, but it also adds to inflation and increases the chance of a rate rise.

Key points

  • Ski fields in Australia reached record-breaking temperatures on Saturday.
  • Diesel prices surged 15 cents a litre in five days due to the conflict in Iran.
  • The rising diesel prices could lead to an interest rate hike from the Reserve Bank.
  • The government's decision to extend the excise cut on fuel is a vote of confidence in the economy.
The Upside

If the conflict in Iran is resolved soon, oil prices could drop, and diesel prices might come back down. This could help the economy and reduce the chance of an interest rate hike.

The Downside

If the conflict in Iran continues, oil prices could rise even higher, making it even more expensive for people to drive and increasing the chance of an interest rate hike. This could lead to higher inflation and a slower economy.

Market signals

Oil
  • Oil The conflict in Iran has lifted global oil prices, pushing up wholesale prices for diesel and petrol.

AI-generated analysis of potential market relevance. Not financial advice.

Originally reported at

theguardian.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsaustralianewspoliticseconomydieselpricesiranconflictoilinflation

Author

Penry Buckley

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Jul 18, 2026

Source

theguardian.com

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Topics

australianewspoliticseconomydieselpricesiranconflictoilinflation

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