AAP
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]
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]
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]
Retirement savings to be ‘decimated’ under early access
20 August
Workers being able to access their superannuation early would destroy their retirement earnings, the treasurer has warned, following calls by Pauline Hanson.The One Nation leader has called for a relaxation of rules that would allow people to...[Read More]
Tech giants unaware how many children on social media
20 August
Social media companies do not know how many Australian teenagers remain on their platforms months after the introduction of laws banning those under 16.Meta, Snapchat, TikTok and Google on Friday appeared before a Senate inquiry considering...[Read More]
Push on to shake up ‘best before’ and ‘use-by’ dates
19 August
As a kid, Emma Willliams’ favourite dinner was McDonalds.But now a mum-of-two with a backyard full of chickens, she’s desperate for her family to avoid packaged foods and is making it her mission to minimise food waste.“I find it really hard...[Read More]
Households to bear the brunt of sluggish productivity
13 August
Mortgage holders may have been spared more rate pain by the Reserve Bank but Australia’s chronically weak productivity growth means households will continue to suffer.As the RBA board held interest rates steady for a second-straight meeting, it...[Read More]
‘Hawkish’ RBA open to more hikes after holding rates
13 August
The Reserve Bank has left the door open to more interest rate hikes as it held the benchmark lending rate steady for a second straight meeting.Falling house prices and lower-than-expected inflation helped convince the central bank’s nine-member...[Read More]
House-hunters face spring sale shortage in market slump
13 August
Would-be home buyers hoping to snag a bargain could face a shortage of options during the usually busy spring sales season as owners try to ride out a price slump.Auction clearance rates have rebounded from recent multi-year lows, rising to a...[Read More]
Big polluters make small cuts under climate scheme
12 August
Some of Australia’s biggest polluters have cut emissions by less than one per cent over the past two years, a report has found, falling significantly short of their targets.But major resources and industrial companies could continue to make modest...[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]
Housing affordability rises as price downturn continues
6 August
Three decades of home prices outpacing incomes could be over as Australia’s housing market downturn widens. The market recorded the largest single-month decline in home values in almost four years in July, data released by property analysis firm...[Read More]
Push for nationwide ban on dumping old solar panels
5 August
Used solar panels should be banned from all Australian landfill sites while the government develops a scheme to reuse and recycle the technology, an inquiry has been told. With the right scheme in place, Australia could recover billions of dollars...[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]