Reported at www.theguardian.com: Australia’s inflation rate increased to 2.3% in November, slightly up from 2.1% in October, partly due to the timing of government electricity rebates.

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s underlying inflation measure fell to 3.2%, fueling speculation for a potential interest rate cut at the RBA’s meeting in February, which could benefit the Labor government ahead of the federal election.

The treasurer described the inflation figures as an encouraging sign, while critics pointed out concerns over the government’s use of rebates to influence the headline rate.