Fresh inflation data deals hammer blow to Aussie households
Moderated by Tomas Kauer 
Inflation has once again come in hotter than expected, raising the chance of another interest rate hike early this year.
The consumer price index rose 3.8 per cent in the 12 months to January.
While that was level with December's figure, it was slightly higher than the 3.7 expected by economists.
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In further bad news, the trimmed mean – the Reserve Bank's preferred measure of underlying or "core" inflation – also suprised, rising to 3.4 per cent, above the 3.3 expected by the market.
Both figures are well above the RBA's target band of 2-3 per cent.
Many economists and traders were already expecting the RBA to increase the cash rate in its May meeting – a forecast that will only be strengthened by today's data.
More to come.
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