POPULAR WORDS

The Reserve Bank of Australia decided at its regular monthly meeting to leave interest rates unchanged in November. The official cash rate remains 4.5%. The decision was expected in light of the proximity to Saturday's federal election, and recent economic data detailing a better than expected consumer reaction to world and domestic events. However, the move by the US Federal Reserve to lower America's rate by a further 0.5% overnight, to 2%, reinforces expectations for a drop in Australia in early December. America's interest rate has been reduced 10 times this year and has not been this low since the 1961 Kennedy administration.