Treasurer Jim Chalmers has said the government's request to federal departments and agencies to find further efficiencies is "not unusual or controversial."

Yesterday, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher did not dispute a report in the Australian Financial Review that the public service would need to find savings of as much as five per cent in a year.

It comes as economists are waiting for fresh inflation data to be published later today. 

• Guest: Jim Chalmers, Treasurer
• Producer: Isadora Bogle