11.   The market was also buoyed by a report showing a decline in consumer credit, which indicated that economic growth might ease further.

12.   Wages growth also eased in the March quarter sooner than analysts and the Reserve Bank were forecasting.

13.   That growth has eased fears over the euro that flared last month, when the currency dipped below the dollar level for the first time.

14.   Retail growth was easing slowly, the Bureau said.

15.   Some economists expect the growth to ease slightly this year, due to a slowdown in one of the main growth drivers, the housing industry.