🎧 Audio
📖 Script
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has decided to keep the interest rates steady at 3.6%, a move that was anticipated by many experts. This decision comes amidst rising inflation forecasts, but the RBA has indicated that there is no immediate need for drastic action. Inflation is a measure of how much prices for goods and services increase over time, and when it rises too quickly, it can hurt the economy. However, the RBA believes the current situation does not require hitting the panic button yet.
On the day of the announcement, the Australian share market experienced a decline. A share market is where people can buy and sell shares of companies. The market’s performance often reflects how investors feel about the economy. When the RBA keeps the interest rates unchanged, it sends a signal that they are carefully monitoring the economy’s health.
The decision to hold interest rates can affect various areas of the economy. For instance, it can influence consumer spending, as interest rates impact the cost of borrowing money. When interest rates are low, borrowing money for buying homes or starting businesses becomes cheaper, which can boost economic activities. On the other hand, if rates are high, borrowing becomes more expensive, which can slow down spending.
Despite the current pause in rate changes, the RBA has raised its inflation forecasts. This means they expect prices to rise more than previously thought. It’s important for the bank to balance these expectations without causing unnecessary worry among consumers and investors.
The RBA’s approach shows a cautious optimism. They are keeping an eye on economic indicators and will make adjustments as needed. By not rushing into increasing interest rates, they aim to support the economy’s growth while managing inflation concerns. This strategy highlights the complex balance central banks must maintain to ensure stable economic conditions.
📝 Vocabulary
- inflation: the rate at which prices for goods and services rise
例文: “The government is concerned about rising inflation.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- inflation rate
- rising inflation
- control inflation
インフレーション - interest rate: the cost of borrowing money, usually expressed as a percentage
例文: “The bank decided to keep the interest rate unchanged.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- interest rate hike
- low interest rate
- interest rate policy
金利 - share market: a place where shares of companies are bought and sold
例文: “The share market was volatile today.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- share market index
- share market crash
- share market investment
株式市場 - consumer spending: the amount of money spent by households in an economy
例文: “Consumer spending is a key driver of the economy.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- boost consumer spending
- decline in consumer spending
- consumer spending habits
消費者支出 - economic indicator: a statistic about economic activities, used to measure the health of an economy
例文: “Unemployment is an important economic indicator.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- leading economic indicator
- economic indicator index
- track economic indicators
経済指標
✏️ Grammar Point
Present Perfect – “The RBA has raised its inflation forecasts.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
現在完了形は、過去から現在までの経験や状況を示す際に使用されます。ビジネスでは、プロジェクトの進捗状況を報告する際などに使われます。
📝 使用例文
“例: In a project update, you might say: ‘We have completed the initial phase and are now moving to the next stage.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: The RBA decided to increase the interest rates to 3.6%.
- MCQ: What is one effect of keeping interest rates steady?
a) It discourages consumer spending.
b) It makes borrowing more expensive.
c) It can boost economic activities.
d) It causes inflation to rise. - MCQ: What was the reaction of the Australian share market to the RBA’s decision?
a) It increased significantly.
b) It remained stable.
c) It declined.
d) It experienced a slight rise.
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- c) It can boost economic activities.
- c) It declined.
📚 Reading Questions
- What was the RBA’s decision regarding the interest rates?
- Why do you think the RBA chose not to change the interest rates despite rising inflation forecasts?
- What does the word “steady” mean in the context of interest rates?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- The RBA decided to keep the interest rates steady at 3.6%.
- The RBA likely chose not to change the rates to avoid unnecessary panic and to support economic growth.
- Steady means unchanged or stable.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
オーストラリア準備銀行（RBA）は、インフレ予測を引き上げつつも、金利を3.6%で据え置くことを決定しました。これは、経済の過熱を避けるための慎重な措置とされています。国内では、金利の変動は消費者の支出や住宅市場に大きな影響を与えます。国際的には、オーストラリアの経済政策が他国の市場にも影響を及ぼす可能性があります。将来的には、インフレの動向を注視しながら、さらなる政策調整が行われる可能性が高いと考えられます。
