Australia interest rates stay at 2%
01 September 2015 by News Desk
The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept interest rates unchanged at 2% while it waits to assess any likely changes in other major economies.
The RBA announcement this week is good new for home-owners and potential buyers. Continued stability of interest rates has seen twelve lenders in Australia already making cuts to owner occupier loans, with eleven increasing their rates on loans and 50 companies reducing their rates in the past month.
Westpac has announced new home loan offers, including rate discounts and cash-back incentives. Its new interest rate on the Flexi First Options Home Loan will be 4.19%.
Glenn Stevens, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, said: “The global economy is expanding at a moderate pace, with some further softening in conditions in China and East Asia of late, but stronger US growth. Key commodity prices are much lower than a year ago, in part reflecting increased supply, including from Australia. Australia’s terms of trade are falling.
“The US Federal Reserve is expected to start increasing its policy rate over the period ahead, but some other major central banks are continuing to ease policy. Equity markets have been considerably more volatile of late, associated with developments in China, though other financial markets have been relatively stable. Long-term borrowing rates for most sovereigns and creditworthy private borrowers remain remarkably low. Overall, global financial conditions remain very accommodative.
“Moderate expansion in the economy continues. While growth has been somewhat below longer-term averages for some time, it has been accompanied with somewhat stronger growth of employment and a steady rate of unemployment over the past year.
“Overall, the economy is likely to be operating with a degree of spare capacity for some time yet, with domestic inflationary pressures contained. Inflation is thus forecast to remain consistent with the target over the next one to two years, even with a lower exchange rate. In such circumstances, monetary policy needs to be accommodative. Low interest rates are acting to support borrowing and spending. Credit is recording moderate growth overall, with growth in lending to the housing market broadly steady over recent months.
“Dwelling prices continue to rise strongly in Sydney, though trends have been more varied in a number of other cities. The Bank is working with other regulators to assess and contain risks that may arise from the housing market. In other asset markets, prices for commercial property have been supported by lower long-term interest rates, while equity prices have moved lower and been more volatile recently, in parallel with developments in global markets. The Australian dollar is adjusting to the significant declines in key commodity prices. The Board judged that leaving the cash rate unchanged was appropriate.”
