Inflation in Australia remained in retreat in the last quarter of 2024, stoking the case for the central bank to join the global easing cycle by cutting rates at its coming meeting in February.

By Wayne Cole SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian consumer prices rose at the slowest pace in almost four years in the December quarter, while a pullback in housing costs helped cool core inflation and open the door to a cut in interest rates as early as next month.

Financial markets are betting the Reserve Bank will preview a rates reprieve in February, with official figures showing the RBA's preferred measure of inflation fell to 3.2 per cent over the year to December.