Dutton weighs in on RBA amid banana price rise warning

13 February

Inflation pressures could resurface if the Reserve Bank cuts rates prematurely, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has warned amid fears the north Queensland floods could push up grocery prices. The devastating floods, which have led to two deaths, have...[Read More]

Interest rate cut hopes rise on soft inflation print

30 January

Interest rate relief could be around the corner after underlying inflation came in below expectations. Core inflation fell to 3.2 per cent in the year to December, opening the door for the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut the cash rate at its next...[Read More]

Strong jobs growth data deflates February rate cut hope

23 January

Australia’s jobs market continues to show “remarkable” resilience with stronger than expected employment growth tempering hopes of a February rate cut. About 56,000 jobs were added to the economy in December, the Australian Bureau of...[Read More]

Consumer spending plunge brightens hopes of rate cut

16 January

Australians pulled back sharply on purchasing household goods after bringing forward spending during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Consumer spending fell 1.8 per cent in December after a rise in November, with financially stretched households...[Read More]

Consumers feel finances slide but hold hope for future

16 January

Australians are feeling increasingly pessimistic about their household finances even as signs suggest the economy is set to improve. Consumer confidence slipped in the latest survey from Westpac and the Melbourne Institute, with sentiment declining...[Read More]

Early rate-cut hopes alive as core inflation eases

9 January

Mortgage-holders and a prime minister in election mode are hoping an encouraging step down in underlying inflation will pave the way for a February interest rate cut. Economists were generally heartened by official monthly inflation numbers, though...[Read More]

Rate cuts on horizon in mixed 2025 for the economy

2 January

Australians have endured taxing economic conditions in the past calendar year, but there is cause for cautious hope in 2025. Long-awaited interest rate cuts are broadly expected in the first half of the year, providing household budgets with...[Read More]

Economy yet to shake malaise as growth misses forecasts

5 December

Australia’s economy is still growing – but only just – though economists are unconvinced the weaker-than-expected data will bring forward keenly-anticipated interest rate cuts. Full-year growth fell to 0.8 per cent in September, down from one...[Read More]

Christmas rate cut hopes slayed as inflation holds firm

28 November

Australia’s inflation rate may have undershot expectations to hold at the bottom of the central bank’s target band but borrowers should not expect interest rate cuts just yet. The annual headline inflation rate has held at 2.1 per cent in...[Read More]

Annual inflation rate hangs on at 2.1 per cent

28 November

Australia’s annual headline inflation rate has held at 2.1 per cent in October for a second month, coming in a little below expectations. Despite clocking a second month at the bottom of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s two-three per cent target...[Read More]

Consumer confidence rebound wobbles following Trump win

14 November

A second Donald Trump presidency has dented an otherwise confident outlook for Australian consumers, buoyed by improving finances and the diminishing likelihood of interest rate hikes. Pessimists still outnumber optimists in the Westpac-Melbourne...[Read More]

Inflation eases to 2.8 per cent in September quarter

31 October

Australia’s annual inflation rate has returned to the range targeted by the central bank, clocking in at 2.8 per cent in the September quarter. The headline annual rate was down a whole percentage point from the June quarter and landed broadly in...[Read More]

Petrol and energy relief drag headline inflation lower

31 October

Cheaper fuel and energy bill relief have helped drag headline inflation down to its lowest rate since early 2021. A 2.8 per cent rise in the September-quarter consumer price index marks a return to the Reserve Bank’s target range of two to three...[Read More]

Pandemic cash splash let inflation genie out of bottle

31 October

Unnecessary COVID-19 spending and Reserve Bank delay in lifting interest rates significantly worsened inflation, a review of Australia’s pandemic response finds. While supports like JobKeeper and HomeBuilder were desperately needed and an...[Read More]

Debit card surcharges could be scrapped in crackdown

17 October

Surcharges for payments made by debit card could soon be dumped, but business groups have warned there might be unintended consequences for consumers. The federal government said it was prepared to ban debit payment surcharges by 2026, pending a...[Read More]