MAY RBA UPDATE NEWS

RBA Reduces Rates by 0.25%

At it's meeting today, the RBA decided to reduce rates by 0.25%.   

Some of their comments from their statement was:

The global economy is likely to record growth a little below trend this year, before picking up next year. Among the major regions, the United States continues on a path of moderate expansion and China's growth is running at a more sustainable, but still robust, pace.

As has been the case for some time, the high dollar, low inflation environment has given the RBA scope to easy monetary policy.

Over recent meetings, the Board has noted that interest rates have already been reduced substantially, with borrowing rates approaching previous lows, and that the effects of this on the economy are continuing to emerge.

Recent data on prices confirm that inflation is consistent with the target and, if anything, a little lower than expected. The CPI rose by 2½ per cent over the past year, and measures of underlying inflation gave a broadly similar outcome.

The exchange rate, on the other hand, has been little changed at a historically high level over the past 18 months, which is unusual given the decline in export prices and interest rates during that time. Moreover, the demand for credit remains, at this point, relatively subdued.

The Board has previously noted that the inflation outlook would afford scope to ease further, should that be necessary to support demand. At today's meeting the Board decided to use some of that scope. It judged that a further decline in the cash rate was appropriate to encourage sustainable growth in the economy, consistent with achieving the inflation target.

With rates being reduced and with the scope to cut further if required, this shoudl foster growth moving forward.  As always, please call the office on 07 3376 1005 if you would like to discuss your situation.