Suppose that $\mathcal {A}$ is a unital subhomogeneous C*-algebra. We show that every central sequence in $\mathcal {A}$ is hypercentral if and only if every pointwise limit of a sequence of irreducible representations is multiplicity free. We also show that every central sequence in $\mathcal {A}$ is trivial if and only if every pointwise limit of irreducible representations is irreducible. Finally, we give a nice representation of the latter algebras.

An ergodic probability measure preserving (p.m.p.) equivalence relation ${\mathcal{R}}$ is said to be stable if ${\mathcal{R}}\cong {\mathcal{R}}\times {\mathcal{R}}_{0}$ where ${\mathcal{R}}_{0}$ is the unique hyperfinite ergodic type $\text{II}_{1}$ equivalence relation. We prove that a direct product ${\mathcal{R}}\times {\mathcal{S}}$ of two ergodic p.m.p. equivalence relations is stable if and only if one of the two components ${\mathcal{R}}$ or ${\mathcal{S}}$ is stable. This result is deduced from a new local characterization of stable equivalence relations. The similar question on McDuff $\text{II}_{1}$ factors is also discussed and some partial results are given.