economy
RBA’s stagflation nightmare: prices up, confidence down
16 April
The Reserve Bank board will have to earn its money to navigate Australia through a “nightmare” stagflation shock, a top central bank official says as confidence tanks and prices soar. The RBA was still “feeling its way” through the energy...[Read More]
The RBA conflict that could decide its next rates call
2 April
A conflict at the heart of the Reserve Bank’s mandate could determine the outcome of its next interest rates decision. Minutes from the central bank’s March meeting published on Tuesday revealed a split between the five members who voted for a...[Read More]
Calm before storm: RBA braces for spikes and hikes
26 March
A slight easing in Australia’s headline inflation rate before the Iran war will do little to ease the Reserve Bank’s fears, as economists expect price growth to bounce back with a vengeance in March. Consumer prices rose 3.7 per cent in the 12...[Read More]
Three more rate hikes tipped as prices begin to rise
26 March
Mortgage holders could face as many as three interest rate hikes by Christmas, according to money markets, as concerns mount over the Iran war’s impact on inflation. Rates traders upped their predictions on Friday, pricing in almost 75 more basis...[Read More]
Spike in jobless rate unlikely to end RBA hiking cycle
26 March
Noisy jobs data has revealed a tight labour market, giving the Reserve Bank the green light to further hike interest rates despite a spike in unemployment. The jobless rate jumped to 4.3 per cent in February, despite almost 50,000 more people...[Read More]
Treasurer softens up voters for ‘hard decisions’ on tax
26 March
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is willing to anger older Australians to make the tax system fairer for younger generations. But he admitted productivity growth would take longer to recover than previously thought during a major pre-budget address to a...[Read More]
Top bank wary of economic darkness ‘we have to have’
19 March
The Reserve Bank does not want to send Australia into a recession but its options to avoid one might be running out. Governor Michele Bullock has old reporters a recession could be a possibility if inflation proves too hard to get down, after the...[Read More]
Collateral damage: war threatens to blow up inflation
19 March
The Reserve Bank of Australia has hiked interest rates for the second straight month, warning of more pain the longer the war in the Middle East drags on. In a split five-four decision on Tuesday – the tightest since the central bank started...[Read More]
How much each state will get from the GST carve-up
19 March
CHANGES IN STATE AND TERRITORY GST PAYMENTS NSW * GST payment increased from $28.1 billion to $28.2 billion * Relative share of GST compared to per capita allocation fell from 86c in the dollar to 82c * Share of GST fell from 26.7 per cent to 25.5...[Read More]
Oil shock further reason for tax reform, spending cuts
18 March
Politicians must resist the temptation to use a budget boon from the Iran war to pump the economy up with cost-of-living measures such as fuel excise cuts or energy rebates, economists say. Repeating the approach of the post-COVID-19 pandemic...[Read More]
Iran conflict raises spectre of triple RBA rate hike
12 March
Three of Australia’s four major banks predict the Reserve Bank will hike interest rates for the second month in a row as fears that war in the Middle East will worsen inflation fuelled a drastic turnaround in markets. Westpac, NAB and Commonwealth...[Read More]
‘Significant spikes’: servos to face huge gouging fines
12 March
Service stations deliberately price gouging customers due to the Middle East war will face harsher penalties, as the federal government acknowledges panic buying has led to shortages in regional areas. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said penalties would be...[Read More]
Rate hike odds spike for ‘live’ March RBA meeting
5 March
Traders upped their bets for a Reserve Bank rate hike in March to a one-in-three chance after the central bank’s governor said the meeting would be “live”. While Michele Bullock was careful not to signpost the RBA’s decision on March 17, her...[Read More]
Good news is bad news: GDP growth fuels inflation fears
5 March
Higher spending on defence, data centres and Black Friday sales has helped the economy grow at its fastest pace in almost three years, boosting living standards but raising fears of more interest rate hikes. Gross domestic product expanded 0.8 per...[Read More]
CBA boss calls for spending cuts, bold reform in budget
5 March
The bosses of Australia’s largest companies have urged Treasurer Jim Chalmers to take a bold agenda to the May budget to salvage the country’s faltering international competitiveness. Speaking at the Australian Financial Review Business Summit,...[Read More]