<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's top economists aren't the only ones predicting a series of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/interest-rates-anz-raises-fixes-rates-in-anticipation-of-rba-cash-rate-hike/1437e009-acfd-4d1d-b830-ca4d75f4e87d" rel="" target="_blank" title="unwelcome cash rate hikes this year."><span>unwelcome cash rate hikes this year.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/interest-rate-hhike-forecasts-reserve-bank-middle-east-big-four-banks/44a09939-1636-4509-9fdc-20f67f3eaa97" rel="" target="_blank" title="The likelihood of a double interest rate blow"><span>The likelihood of a double interest rate blow</span></a><span> to mortgage holders in March and May has already been well established – but now </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/artificial-intelligence" rel="" target="_blank" title="Artificial Intelligence (AI)"><span>Artificial Intelligence (AI)</span></a><span> is confirming this grim forecast.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three out of three AI models, CoPilot, Perplexity and Google's Gemini, have agreed there will be more cash rate rises in 2026, Bank of Queensland's chief economist Peter Munckton said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/beachport-missing-fisherman-bodies-found-in-search-south-australia/ab479a69-6d2e-4b41-b9f6-1126e297fd02" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trio of missing fisherman found dead off South Australia coast</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-trump-netanyahu-how-long-will-the-war-last/3a066ef3-fe97-4b15-8222-982b2e91de3f" target="_blank"><strong><span>Netanyahu responds to rumours he is dead; Iran denies Trump claim it wants ceasefire</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While two of the AI tools were 70 per cent sure of a rate hike this week, one model was a little more conservative in its prediction.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But while CoPilot placed the risks of a rate rise at the March meeting at 30-70 (ie, 30 per cent chance of a hike) the two other models were the mirror image (70 per cent chance of a hike," Munckton said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/interest-rates-rba-decision-artificial-intelligence-tools-predict-more-cash-rate-hikes/652a4c7b-5ab8-490a-b85e-6f076901379e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I agree with the majority and expect a rate hike at the March meeting."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/us-israel-iran-war-crisis-talks-over-petrol-as-middle-east-war-expands-after-oil-island-hit/7094b0cf-4f3a-4f69-a306-51d29beb6634" target="_blank"><strong><span>Crisis talks over petrol as Middle East war expands after oil island hit</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The AI tools' predictions are in line with Australia's big four banks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CBA, ANZ Westpac and NAB have all shifted their cash rate predictions due to inflation running too hot, a stretched labour market, and the war in the Middle East – which is likely to add to inflation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>All four big banks now anticipate the Reserve Bank will increase the cash rate 25 basis points when it meets tomorrow and by the same margin at the following meeting in May.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-choose-9news-as-your-preferred-source-in-google/7e8c11bd-1b8b-4e7f-8fff-154231ab5d16" target="_blank"><strong><span>How to Choose 9News as your preferred source in Google's Top Stories</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Munckton however said there was an argument for the RBA exercising caution and waiting until the May meeting to understand the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But unless there is a substantial jump in financial market volatility leading into the meeting the RBA appears comfortable prioritising inflation risks," he said</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If higher oil prices does lead to some weakening of the economy that could be seen to be doing some of the work of interest rates in returning inflation to target.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is ultimately a judgement call and it would not be surprising if there is a split decision at the March Board meeting."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>