<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australians who are already feeling the squeeze say they will be forced to cut back further on fuel, dinners out and even hair and makeup products if today's expected rates cut lands.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But for some the situation is already so dire even the pain of another cut will barely make a difference.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nine.com.au hit the streets of Sydney to ask people what they would be forced to cut back on.</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/us-israel-iran-war-crisis-talks-over-petrol-as-middle-east-war-expands-after-oil-island-hit/7094b0cf-4f3a-4f69-a306-51d29beb6634" rel="" target="" title="Crackdown to hit fuel check website after stations caught lying"><strong><span>Crackdown to hit fuel check website after stations caught lying</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The majority said that a rates cut will force a major rethink on spending, with fuel a particular concern.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Hair and makeup products. Also definitely less petrol," one woman said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Maybe I'll go home to my parents' house, get my bike and start riding that around… and a free meal would be great thanks mum and dad."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/finance/sydney-reacts-to-iminent-rba-interest-rate-hike/8bb17c15-3a98-42ba-8ce0-9b9f58ba515d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Others said discretionary spending would likely be the first thing to go.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Going out and eating - bars, restaurants - that sort of thing," another said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Fuel costs were another common concern.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Definitely fuel at the moment," another said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One prospective homebuyer said the current economic climate was already making things difficult.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Eating out. Food. I'm trying to buy a property right now which is already hard enough - hard to find anything at a decent price - and then you've also got interest rates, so it just doesn't help does it," they said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Others said they would simply have to be more cautious.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm just going to have to be careful with what I spend. Obviously everything is going to be more expensive," one resident said.</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://style.nine.com.au/latest/oscars-2026-red-carpet-98th-academy-awards-best-celebrity-fashion-outfits-looks-in-pictures/7bb14dab-d2f1-4846-9dc7-83e869e65f32" rel="" target="" title="2026 Oscars red carpet: See every look as stars dazzle "><strong><span>2026 Oscars red carpet: See every look as stars dazzle</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Everyone drives a car, so fuel is expensive."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some said the cost-of-living pressures were already so severe that another rate rise would barely change their behaviour.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't really care… everything is just so bad it really won't make much of a difference," one person said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another said households would likely become more selective about when they splurge.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You have to find your moments to spend money," they said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You'll amplify birthdays and special occasions, but week to week you'll probably find yourself doing less with what you've got."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Economists from Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and NAB are forecasting the Reserve Bank of Australia will increase the official cash rate when the board meets later today with another rise potentially following in May.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If that happens, the cash rate would climb back to 4.35 per cent - effectively wiping out the three rate cuts borrowers received last year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Commonwealth Bank head of Australian economics Belinda Allen said the Reserve Bank would be closely watching how both global developments and domestic data evolve ahead of its next decision.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Conflict in the Middle East has further threatened the inflation outlook," she said, noting it could also pose risks to global and Australian economic growth.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Allen said recent domestic data could strengthen the case for a rate rise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"GDP growth at 2.6 per cent came in above expectations, breaching the speed limit of around 2.1 per cent a year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The unemployment rate has printed for the second month in a row at 4.1 per cent, remaining well below the Reserve Bank's and our estimate of the NAIRU, and January CPI data suggested continued inflation pressures."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her comments follow warnings from Reserve Bank deputy governor Andrew Hauser, who recently flagged that rising oil prices and ongoing global tensions could aggravate inflation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/one-nation-poll-result-taking-support-from-labor-and-coalition/9fce336e-30a1-45f7-be1a-501c07d84c8d" rel="" target="_blank" title="One Nation surges in polls, stripping potential votes from Labor and Coalition"><strong><span>One Nation surges in polls, stripping potential votes from Labor and Coalition</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><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><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>