Australia just released fresh inflation expectation data for December, and the numbers show consumers are getting more worried about price pressures. The reading came in at 4.7%, up from 4.5% the previous month—a shift that's definitely worth paying attention to if you're tracking global macro trends.

Why does this matter? When consumers expect higher inflation, it typically signals that central banks might stay hawkish on rates longer than expected. Higher interest rates generally make risk-on assets like crypto less attractive in the short term, since the opportunity cost of holding volatile assets increases. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar could see some volatility as traders recalibrate their rate expectations.

The uptick suggests persistent pricing pressures in the economy, which could influence the Reserve Bank of Australia's policy stance. For crypto and broader risk asset traders, moves like these are key indicators of liquidity conditions and risk appetite in the months ahead.