Some analysts think that the Bundesbank could cut its discount rate, which is now 6.75 percent, by half a percentage point.

The Fed, with the year nearly over, moved to cut the discount rate by a full percentage point.

If the employment report is weak, they could cut the Federal funds rate by half a percentage point.

The Republicans have said their first priority will be to cut the sales tax by a percentage point.

Several large commercial banks cut their prime lending rates by half a percentage point to 9 per cent.

Maine, meanwhile, cut its sales tax by half a percentage point, to 5 percent.

And Switzerland cut its discount rate by half a percentage point.

Last month the drought was said to have cut second-quarter growth by a percentage point and that the total loss would be $14.3 billion.

British banks cut key interest rates today by half a percentage point, to 9 percent.

Most important was the Bundesbank's decision to cut its discount rate by half a percentage point, to a record low of 2.5 percent.