The RBA will likely hold interest rates – but are its calculations at risk of being overtaken by US election chaos?

Services crept up for a second straight quarter to an annual pace of 4.6% and will no doubt prompt the RBA governor, Michele Bullock, pictured, to repeat concerns about ‘sticky’ inflation. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

When the Reserve Bank board meet next week to discuss interest rates, it will have an inescapable “best-laid schemes of mice and men” feel about it.

For sure, there will the usual meticulous assembly and assessment of data, including Wednesday’s relatively benign inflation figures.