RBA Interest Rate Announcement

RBA Interest Rate Announcement May 2017

The RBA today has decided to leave interest rates unchanged. This announcement was a little more upbeat on the global economy but largely unchanged about the Australian economy.

Here is the summary of what the RBA said:

  1. The global economy has improved in recent months with global growth revised up.
  2. China particularly had stronger growth due to spending on infrastructure and property. Risk here is a high level of debt as a funding source of these projects.
  3. Australia’s business and consumer confidence are at, or above, average.
  4. Resource exports are improving growth prospects.
  5. The labour market is still mixed. Expect labour conditions to improve.
  6. Inflation has picked up to the lower range target of 2.0% for the March quarter.

More details at http://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2017/mr-17-09.html

Recent changes by lenders continue to increase their interest only and investment rates. The banking regulator has put restrictions on the total amount of new lending to interest only at 30% and also increased their supervision on LVR lending about 80% for interest only loans.

For more, go back to the full interest rate announcement list here.