Unfortunately for savers, The Melbourne Institute inflation expectation reading yesterday pointed to a drop in consumer inflation over the next 12 months.
If this reading proves to be accurate then it looks likely that the Reserve Bank will have to slash rates beyond the record low of 1.5% in order to hit its inflation targets.
With term deposits already at extreme lows and likely to get worse, I believe savers would be better off looking at the generous dividends on offer on the Australian market. Here are four which could be good options for savers:
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN)
As well as being the cheapest Australian bank based on book value, this regional bank pays one of the biggest dividends in the banking sector. Shareholders of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank are expected to receive a fully franked 6.7% dividend in FY 2017 according to CommSec.
Cedar Woods Properties Limited (ASX: CWP)
The shares of this leading property developer are expected to provide investors with a fully franked 5.7% dividend in FY 2017. The developer looks likely to have a strong year ahead of it. In its recent results it advised that it already has $130 million in pre-sales and a growing pipeline of development projects.
Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN)
Thanks largely to a booming property market this leading retailer recently reported a 30% increase in full year net profit after tax to $348.6 million. The good news is that management expects this trend to continue for some time still. With its shares changing hands at 15x earnings and paying an estimated fully franked 5.5% dividend, this could prove to be a good investment.
WAM Capital Limited (ASX: WAM)
This leading fund manager has increased its dividend by an average of 8% per annum for the last five years. Thanks to its strong performance this year I wouldn't be surprise to see the trend continue next year as well. WAM's investment portfolio has returned 28.3% in the last 12 months thanks to great investments in companies such as Mayne Pharma Group Ltd (ASX: MYX) and a2 Milk Company Ltd (Australia) (ASX: A2M). I expect its shares to provide a fully franked 6.8% dividend in FY 2017.
