DURING the past week we have seen the key gauge of commodity prices, the CRB Futures Index, hit a 17-month low, housing starts fall 2.7 per cent to an 18-year low and tourist arrivals fall 7.7 per cent. What does all this mean for us in Australia?

DURING the past week we have seen the key gauge of commodity prices, the CRB Futures Index, hit a 17-month low, housing starts fall 2.7 per cent to an 18-year low and tourist arrivals fall 7.7 per cent. What does all this mean for us in Australia?