A big test today for the Australian Bureau of Statistics and its new look labour force survey: it will have to pick up a rise in jobs loss and a rise in the unemployment rate for the statistics to remain credible.

Commodities held centre stage for most of the week for all the unwanted reasons: declining demand, prices and interest from the market.

Fears are swirling through Asia that the unrest in Thailand and Malaysia, the economic and political woes of Japan and the continuing weakness in South Korea might be a precursor to more serious problems at a time when the Australian economy’s sole remaining lifeline is linked firmly into the region.

The RBA kicked off an easing cycle with this week’s 0.25% cut in the cash rate to 7%.

While our car sales fell sharply last month in the US car sales were again very weak last month, despite the drop in oil and petrol prices.

As usual it pays to compare and contrast the statements issued after each RBA board meeting.