Economy
Australians are ‘furious’ about inflation: RBA deputy
10 September
Australians are “furious” about inflation and it will take the nation years to fully get on top on higher post-pandemic living costs, the Reserve Bank’s deputy governor says. Ahead of the central bank’s meeting later this month on interest...[Read More]
Reserve Bank’s grim rates warning as oil prices spike
10 September
The Reserve Bank might have to raise interest rates if inflation is higher than expected as oil prices surge back towards $US100 a barrel. More attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz drove Brent crude above $US97 a barrel, which will seep...[Read More]
AI boom forecast as Australia’s biggest bonanza yet
10 September
The adoption of artificial intelligence is rocketing in Australia, creating massive demand for infrastructure that will deliver jobs and economic benefits. The nation was at the “cusp of a data centre boom”, Oxford Economics head of economics...[Read More]
Jobs and wage data in focus ahead of interest rate call
15 May
Upcoming wages and unemployment data may have significant bearing on the Reserve Bank’s closely watched interest rate decision. Domestic signals have taken somewhat of a back seat since US President Donald Trump’s tariff dump in early April. But...[Read More]
‘Green light’ for rate hike as GDP growth surprises
3 September
Australia’s economy grew by 2.1 per cent in the last financial year, cementing the odds for another rate rise as the economy proves more resilient than the Reserve Bank expects.Gross domestic product expanded by 0.4 per cent in the June quarter,...[Read More]
Blanket bans on AI could cause ‘data centre panic’
3 September
One-size-fits-all restrictions on how artificial intelligence data centres are powered could send investment in the growing technology overseas, business groups warn.In a submission to a Senate inquiry into AI data centres, the Australian Chamber of...[Read More]
Treasury tips AI as key driver of productivity growth
3 September
Artificial intelligence could be the ticket out of stunted economic growth while risking the future of increasingly high-skilled jobs, according to Treasury advice.In a brief handed to the treasurer, AI has been characterised as a tool which could...[Read More]
‘Hot mess’ inflation result puts rate rise on the table
27 August
More interest rate hikes are on the cards after Australia’s headline inflation rate came in higher than expected, despite falling to its lowest level in eight months.The consumer price index rose one per cent in July, resulting in the annual rate...[Read More]
Foreign property purchases fall as home buyer ban bites
26 August
Purchases of Australian property by overseas investors have plunged after the government announced a ban on foreigners buying Australian homes.The number of investment approvals fell by more than 22 per cent to 5284 in 2024/25, the Productivity...[Read More]
Jobs data and a fireside chat: the economic week ahead
20 August
As the US dragged itself out of the Great Depression, newly-elected president Franklin D Roosevelt pioneered an informal style of radio address to nurture rapport with a bruised American public.It’s unclear whether the LED lighting at...[Read More]
Early days but a door is opening for first home buyers
20 August
A dive in new home loans to property investors is an “encouraging sign” Labor’s changes to negative gearing and the capital gains discount are working as intended, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says.The number of investor loans fell 8.6 per cent in...[Read More]
AI boom, productivity malaise making RBA’s job harder
20 August
The surge in artificial intelligence investment and Australia’s sluggish productivity growth rate are forcing the Reserve Bank to keep interest rates higher, a top central bank official says.Speaking two days after the RBA kept the cash rate...[Read More]
‘Softer than we thought’: RBA’s admission on inflation
6 August
Surprise inflation data, which came in lower than expected and below the central bank’s own forecasts, was due to softer fuel prices, according to the RBA’s chief economist. Figures released on Wednesday revealed headline inflation for June fell...[Read More]
EV sales, air travel drive rebound in consumer spending
6 August
Australian households show no sign of pulling back on spending despite the Middle East conflict exacerbating cost-of-living concerns. Strong growth in electric vehicle purchases and a bounce back in air travel drove a surprisingly strong 0.8 per...[Read More]
Surprise inflation drop eases chance of RBA rate hikes
30 July
Falling inflation levels have defied Reserve Bank predictions, alleviating fears another interest-rate hike is imminent. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed headline annual inflation falling to 3.8 per cent in June, down from four...[Read More]