Economy
New inflation reporting has the Reserve Bank excited
27 November
Wednesday was a momentous day for stats nerds. The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the nation’s first complete monthly consumer price index publication, bringing the nation in line with peer economies and giving the Reserve Bank a more...[Read More]
AI could push up the RBA’s neutral interest rate level
27 November
Artificial intelligence could push up Australia’s neutral interest rate level, making it harder for the Reserve Bank the lower rates further. The whereabouts of the neutral rate – the interest rate level that neither slows down nor speeds up the...[Read More]
Inflation surges as energy rebates run out of gas
26 November
Surging inflation has dashed hopes of one last rate cut and heightened expectations energy rebates will be extended. Expiring electricity subsidies helped drive up the annual consumer price index from 3.6 per cent to a 16-month high of 3.8 per cent...[Read More]
Invest or lose: Australia’s billion-dollar AI warning
26 November
Australia could miss out on a $150 billion boost to its economy if it fails to invest in artificial intelligence, including sovereign AI models, regional hubs, training and infrastructure. But decisive investments in the technology could deliver an...[Read More]
Australian economy ‘island of security’ in risky seas
20 November
The nation’s economy is an “island of security” says Treasurer Jim Chalmers despite less certainty about interest rate cuts among economists after stronger-than-expected jobs data. Dr Chalmers hailed low unemployment in a speech to investors...[Read More]
Wages growth running out of steam after inflation spike
20 November
A reawakening of the inflation dragon is not expected to end Australian workers’ record run of real wages growth just yet. Pay packets are expected to have grown in real terms for an eighth consecutive quarter in September, the Australian Bureau...[Read More]
Insight on cash rate pause as economy runs at capacity
20 November
The Reserve Bank will shed further light on its decision to deny homeowners a further rate cut when it releases minutes from its last meeting earlier in November. Australia’s central bank kept interest rates on hold at 3.6 per cent after the...[Read More]
Rate cut hopes evaporate with healthy jobs figures
20 November
Hopes of more interest rate cuts have taken a hit after Australia’s unemployment rate plunged, reinforcing beliefs of a tight jobs market. Bonds traders lowered the odds of another Reserve Bank interest rate cut on Thursday and the ASX fell to its...[Read More]
Interest rate cuts might have less impact than thought
13 November
Changes to interest rates could have less of an impact on household spending than traditionally thought, which means the Reserve Bank might have to hike or cut harder to achieve its aims. Despite the RBA hiking interest rates in one of its sharpest...[Read More]
No smoking gun to link deposit scheme, home price spike
13 November
Property prices grew at the fastest rate in more than two years following the federal government’s expanded deposit guarantee scheme kicking in, but there is not enough evidence of a direct link between the two, housing experts say. Home values...[Read More]
RBA bigwig reveals how economy can escape slow lane
13 November
Whether Australia takes the road to prosperity or stays in the slow lane depends largely on fixing productivity, according to a top Reserve Bank official. Australia’s economy faces three possible paths forward, RBA deputy governor Andrew Hauser...[Read More]
Consumers feeling merry in time for a Christmas splurge
13 November
Australian households are optimistic about their economic prospects for the first time since the start of an inflation spike almost four years ago. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index climbed above 100, meaning optimists...[Read More]
Economy heads for first major test since RBA rate hold
13 November
Job figures are set to take centre stage as economists continue to mull whether borrowers have seen their last Reserve Bank rate cut this cycle. In the first major piece of economic data since the RBA left interest rates on hold last week, the...[Read More]
Jump in forecast inflation clouds interest rate hopes
6 November
The Reserve Bank has drastically lifted inflation forecasts after admitting its last estimate was off the mark, likely ruling out rate cuts until late 2026 at the earliest. Released as its monetary policy board held interest rates steady on Tuesday,...[Read More]
The worrying trend that could put an end to rate cuts
6 November
In the shock inflation print that scared the Reserve Bank off cutting interest rates at its latest meeting, two items gave governor Michele Bullock particular cause for concern. After the central bank kept the cash rate steady at 3.6 per cent on...[Read More]