Australia is facing its shortest rate cut cycle in 30 years as the RBA hints it may have to start hiking

It's sure to leave many mortgage holders feeling short-changed given the RBA's equally historic 13 rate hikes through 2022 and 2023

The Reserve Bank's governor, Michele Bullock, has effectively ruled out further rate cuts and flagged that hikes might be needed in 2026 if the recent inflationary rebound proves persistent.

Speaking at a press conference after the widely expected decision to hold the cash rate at 3.6%, Bullock seemed surprisingly upbeat as she delivered the bad news to the roughly 3.3 million households with a mortgage.