The central bank's critics complain that, at 16%, its basic interest rate is still far too high for Brazil's indebted economy.

ECONOMIST: Small rows and better economic numbers

But the most common mistake of people who have trouble paying off student loans is failing to understand what they're getting into, even overlooking details as basic as the interest rate and the consequences of missing a payment.

WSJ: A Lesson in Finance

The Conservatives' proposal essentially removes this limit and extends the tax privilege to all lower-rate and basic-rate income-tax payers who receive interest on their deposits.

ECONOMIST: Tax cuts

The Fed's basic model suggests that about 14% of the impact of any interest-rate change on the economy is transmitted via housing markets.

ECONOMIST: Economics focus

With inflation ravaging the Mexican economy, President Felipe Calderon froze prices Wednesday for 150 basic food items, possibly seeking to placate consumers ahead of an expected interest rate increase.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Under Cameron, basic rate tax payers would no longer have to pay tax on the interest from their savings.

BBC: Martha Kearney's week

You need to read the speech for the full explanation, but the basic idea is that higher inflation can help push down the real cost of borrowing - the real interest rate - at times when nominal interest rates can't go any lower.

BBC: On markets and helicopters