25 July 08 | Inflation figures released this week were slightly higher than predicted, despite a few rather optimistic noises about the next interest rate move being a downward one. While a cut is not on the cards anytime soon, the Reserve Bank is not expected to lift rates either, says CBA. However banks continue to raise interest rates independently of the Reserve Bank. Non-bank lender Liberty raised its rates this week, with the Commonwealth Bank and St George raising rates the previous 2 weeks.

25 July 08 | There is a growing pent-up demand in housing that the ANZ bank is predicting could lead to the “Mother of all housing booms” in the coming years, says Rich Harvey from Property Buyers. Record numbers of new migrants are coming into Australia. We need around 200,000 new dwellings each year, but there is a growing gap.