No need for pre-Budget rate change - Shadow RBA

President Trump's first 100 days in office continue to raise eyebrows and put policy makers and economists on edge. Domestically, the federal budget takes centre stage. Australian interest rates should remain on hold in May ahead of the federal Budget and with ongoing global uncertainty over Donald Trump's Presidency in the US and North Korea's weapons testing, the ANU RBA Shadow Board has found. The board of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will meet on Tuesday to review official interest rates, which have been at a record low of 1.5 per cent since August last year. Chair of the RBA Shadow Board Dr Timo Henckel said March quarter inflation rose to 2.1 per cent and back within the RBA's 2-3 per cent target band, while the unemployment rate remains a worrying 5.9 per cent seasonally adjusted. "Internationally, President Trump's first 100 days in office continue to raise eyebrows and put policy makers and economists on edge. Domestically, the federal budget takes centre stage," Dr Henckel said.