Better than expected inflation figures recently (at 2.4% - Australia's lowest inflation rate in 2 years) caused some to wonder if the upward pressure on interest rates had abated. Raising interest rates is the main weapon to keep inflation under control (and within the RBA's desired target range), but the RBA is not expected to raise them tomorrow.

Despite the fact that interest rates rarely (never?) rise in a Federal election year, pundits seem split 50-50 on interest rates rising later in the year (probably in the December quarter).

Recent falls in inflation seem to be more to do with a higher dollar (making imports cheaper) and short term price falls (bananas, oil) from 2006 highs, than a slowing economy. If WA was the whole economy, then interest rates would have probably gone up by now, with our record low unemployment and surging incomes. No one wants a crash, and well-managed monetary policy can help recent this, and can even prolong our boom - something we all would welcome...

[Disclaimer: the views expressed in this eNewsletter are from an ex-Economics teacher and are for general interest only - he could be wrong... but he thinks the Economics is right!]

If you have properties on aussiehome.com right now (and that means there are 1072 other like you), then you have your own 'home page', which can be found by tapping in www.aussiehome.com/ and then adding your 'firstname-lastname' after the '/. (or clicking on your name on any of your properties). Go on, give it a whirl right now.

We've upgraded our database recently so as well as writing a bit about yourself (which you can update at anytime), you can now add TESTIMONIALS and choose your FEATURE PROPERTY. It also shows your current listings.

Login to the 'Client Zone' and take control of your very own aussiehome.com home page - courtesy of us. And, even better, if you buy a suburb, you can feature in every search result in that suburb, and this then links to your home page. To enquire about BUYING your own suburb - CLICK HERE.

You may have noticed some new fields for every property have been added - this is part of a 3-stage upgrade process (we're now at stage 2). These fields show on aussiehome.com, but do not feed to REIWA (or our hosted sites) yet.

NEW FIELDS are: Expiry Date, Roof Type, Wall Type, Encumbrances (text), Year built (Date), Storeys (1-99), Hot Water System (none/gas/electric/solar)

ADDITIONS to existing fields are: 3 reps can now be selected for the same property, Studio has been added as property type, Over 55s has been added as 'Lifestyle' option

More fields will be added soon, and then feeds to REIWA will be updated to include all these new features. If you want these displaying on your site, please let us know and we can code them for a small once-off coding fee.

Welcome to May - traditionally the first day of the northern summer, a day socialists have taken to their own, and also a distress call when in imminent danger on the seas.

Why distress call? According to Wikipedia.com, it has its roots in the French m'aidez (Help Me). Across the Channel in merrie olde Englande, May 1st marks the beginning of the summer with Morris dancers merrily dancing round the May Pole. Later it became associated with the labour movement, was adopted by Communist countries (remember those Soviet march pasts from Red Square?) and even today you'll have a few 'M1' pressure group members staking out Exchange Plaza down on St George's Terrace.

It was also 10 years ago this very day Tony Blair became Prime Minister of the UK (with his "Real Labour Party" brand) and he is still in 10 Downing Street today ... just.

Whatever MayDay means to you, have a nice one, and an even better month of May. If there is anything you need, or we can help in any way - please do not hesitate to contact us...

 Charlie, Anita, Phil, Mitsue, Amit,  Kylie and Sally

  (08) 9389 5833     service@aussiehome.com