RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir reaffirmed the Pakistan Army’s commitment to supporting federal and provincial governments, stating that coordinated national efforts…
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Inflation jumps in October, adding to pressure on government to make budget savings
Annual inflation rose to a 16-month high of 3.8% in October, adding to pressure on the government as it seeks to make savings across the public sector.
When governments, whether Commonwealth, state or local, increase spending it adds to inflation. Opinions differ on whether Commonwealth spending makes a significant difference. Opposition finance spokesperson Jane Hume argues it does; Treasurer Jim Chalmers countering “the Reserve Bank hasn’t mentioned that in their recent statements”.
Reducing government spending will, however, help curb inflation. It may be one of the motives for a reported federal government decision to seek budget cuts of up to 5% across its departments and agencies.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has denied the reports, saying in question time:
the idea that we are imposing a 5% cut on agencies is incorrect. […] What we have asked agencies to do is to think about […] all the programs they administer and to consider whether they are still priorities.
Put like that, it is normal budget process. Departments are always asked to consider priorities.
If, however, the report of a 5% savings target is true, we will likely see cuts to various kinds of departmental spending including salaries, overtime, consultants, IT and travel.
Cuts such as these, although hard for the public service, would be welcome for the Reserve Bank. Then Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe put the case bluntly in a 2023 speech that fiscal policy (that is, government tax and spending) should align better with monetary policy (setting interest rates) to support economic growth.
What the inflation report shows
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics report showed inflation over the year to October rose to 3.8%, up from 3.6% in the year to September.
The largest contributors to annual inflation were the things people notice the most: housing (up 5.9%), food and beverages (3.2%), and recreation (3.2%). The housing component was driven by a 37.1% jump in electricity costs as some state energy rebates unwound.
The large jump in electricity costs reflects the unwinding of some state energy rebates.
Diego Fedele/AAP
It means cost of living will remain front-of-mind for voters and politicians.
The group with the lowest increase in prices was communications (up 0.8%). This reflects the highly competitive structure of the telecommunications industry and the impact of technological change.
The annual figure was also affected by a negative inflation number from October 2024 dropping out of the annual calculations.
The new, complete CPI
This is the first release of the improved “complete” monthly consumer price index (CPI). Previously, the monthly update was called an “indicator” because it covered fewer goods and services than the long-running quarterly CPI report.
But even the improved monthly series will be more volatile than the quarterly report.
Underlying inflation, which takes out the items with the most extreme price changes and is called the “trimmed mean”, was 3.3% in October. This was only marginally changed from 3.2% in September.
This measure is generally a better guide to the ongoing trend in inflation, but it too remains above the Reserve Bank’s 2–3% target band.
What does it mean for my mortgage?
At its meeting earlier this month, the Reserve Bank board considered the most recent forecasts prepared by its staff. These implied that if the central bank cut interest rates again, as markets were expecting, underlying inflation was “expected to be above 3% until the second half of 2026”. But if they left interest rates unchanged, inflation would be “settling closer to the midpoint” of the 2–3% inflation target.
The implication was that the Reserve Bank would not be cutting (or raising) rates unless incoming economic data was sufficiently dramatic to change the forecasts materially. Today’s data would probably not be regarded as being sufficiently dramatic.
The Reserve Bank regards the underlying “trimmed mean” measures of the monthly and quarterly inflation rates as the more important. But it will still be concerned about today’s high “headline” number.
Expectations matter
Most economists expect the central bank to leave rates on hold for several months at least.
Media stories about high inflation may lift inflationary expectations in the community. If businesses think suppliers and competitors are raising prices, they are more likely to do so themselves. And if union leaders think prices are rising faster than wages (currently growing by 3.4%), they may be more likely to push for higher wage increases.
Some of the change between September and October could have arisen from the Bureau of Statistics adopting a new methodology, expanding the sample of prices of goods and services it measures. The bureau did not say how much of an impact this has had. It complicates the picture for the Reserve Bank and makes it even more likely they will adopt a “wait and see” approach.
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PM Shehbaz holds delegation-level talks with Bahrain’s leadership in Manama – Dawn
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ACI World and Amadeus announce the world’s most innovative airports at 2025 Technology Innovation Awards
The awards spotlight leading airports in digital transformation, passenger experience, and sustainable operations—announced at Airports Innovate 2025 in Busan, Republic of Korea.
Busan, Republic Korea, 26 November 2025 – Airports Council International (ACI) World and Amadeus today announced the winners of the 2025 Technology Innovation Awards, recognizing the world’s most innovative airports. This year’s winners spotlight measurable advances in digital transformation, data-driven operations, identity-enabled self-service, and sustainable, climate-smart terminals.
Why this matters
Air travel will reach 9.8 billion passengers in 2025 (+3.7% YoY), with demand projected to rise to 17.2 billion by 2043. Airport technology and innovation are essential to unlock capacity, improve the passenger experience, and build operational resilience while advancing sustainability.
Winners of the Technology Innovation Awards 2025
- Best Innovation in Airport Passenger Related Processes: The Future Checked In: Biometric Enabled Self Baggage Drop at Kempegowda International Airport
- Best Innovation in Airport Operations and Installations Management: Smart Cleaning System: Redefining Facility Management through Innovation at Queen Alia International Airport
- Best Airport Innovation Leader (Individual): Pablo Lopez Loeches, Head of Ideation & Entrepreneurship at Aena
- Best Innovation: Airport on the Rise (5 million passengers or less): Bioclimatic Airport Building at Roland Garros Airport
ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci said: “The 2025 Technology Innovation Awards winners are about successful innovation implementation—solutions that run every day, in real airports, under real pressure. This year’s winners spotlight measurable advances in digital transformation, data-driven operations, identity-enabled self-service, and sustainable, climate-smart terminals. These are the types of innovation airports need now—meeting today’s passenger expectations while keeping pace with rapid growth in air travel.”
Amadeus EVP AirOps said Rudy Daniello said: “Many congratulations to this year’s airports recognized in the Technology Innovation Awards, from all of us at Amadeus. Our industry stands on the cusp of huge change as airports across the world digitally transform to offer a seamless travel experience. Now mature technologies like digital identity and biometrics are proven to drastically improve the experience of travel the door is open to even greater levels of innovation across the sector. The initiatives underlined how airports can work closely with their airline and government partners to ensure these transformative technologies are applied in a coordinated and integrated manner that delivers outstanding new passenger experiences while boosting overall capacity.”
The announcement was made at the Airports Innovate Gala Dinner. The event is curated as a premier global gathering that showcases the innovations transforming the future of airport travel. The conference is jointly organized by ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, ACI EUROPE, and ACI World, and this year it is hosted by Korea Airports Corporation.
About ACI
Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, is a federated organization comprising ACI World, ACI Africa, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, ACI EUROPE, ACI Latin America and the Caribbean and ACI North America. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2025, ACI serves 830 members, operating 2,181 airports in 170 countries.
About Amadeus
Amadeus makes the experience of travel better for everyone, everywhere by inspiring innovation, partnerships and responsibility to people, places and planet.
Our technology powers the travel and tourism industry. Inspiring more open ways of working. More connected ways of thinking, centered around the traveler. Our open platform connects the global travel and hospitality ecosystem. From startups to big industry players and governments too. Together, transforming how travel works.
We are working to make travel a force for social and environmental good. A collective responsibility to protect and improve the people and places we visit, ensuring travel continues to make positive contribution to our world.
We apply innovation to meet new needs, to solve real challenges. Our truly diverse global workforce, made up of 150 nationalities, is passionate about travel and technology.
We are an IBEX 35 company, listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange under AMS.MC. We have also been recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the last 13 years.
Amadeus. It’s how travel works better.
Learn more about Amadeus at www.amadeus.com.
Editor notes
- Learn more about the ACI World-Amadeus Technology Innovation Awards.
- Learn more about the ACI Airports Innovate Event.
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PM Shehbaz leaves for an official visit to Bahrain – RADIO PAKISTAN
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