CANBERRA, Oct. 26, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) -- The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the producer price index (PPI) for the September quarter on Monday, showing annual cost pressures at the final stage of production at their lowest level in at least 11 years.

This makes a widely anticipated interest rate rise look like being limited to 25 basis points as new data show business facing very few overall cost pressures.

This was largely the result of a strong Australian dollar, which has dramatically cut the cost of imports, economists say.

The consumer price index (CPI) for the September quarter, and corresponding underlying measures of inflation, are due out on Wednesday.

This raised talk of a possible 50 basis point interest rate increase at the November 3 Reserve Bank's board meeting to back up this month's 25 basis point rise, the first hike in 19 months.

However, none of the other major banks - Commonwealth Bank of Australia (OOTC:CMWAY) , National Australia Bank (OOTC:NABZY) and Westpac - have made such a pledge.

The PPI at the final stage of production rose just 0.1 percent cent in the September quarter, ending two consecutive quarters of price falls. Economists had expected the September quarter PPI to rise 0.3 percent for an annual rise of 0.5 percent.