Full extent of Trump’s tariff slap on economy revealed

21 May

Australia’s economy will take an $8 billion dollar hit in 2025 as a result of Donald Trump’s tariffs, the Reserve Bank estimates in updated economic forecasts. Inflation is also expected to come in lower than it otherwise would have, the RBA’s...[Read More]

ā€˜Sustainable’: push to keep low-paid from falling back

21 May

Treasurer Jim Chalmers wants to ensure Australia’s lowest paid workers don’t go backwards, but stresses a real wage rise must not harm the economy. In its formal submission to the Fair Work Commission’s annual review of minimum and award...[Read More]

Trump’s tariff ā€˜rollercoaster’ raises recession risk

21 May

Australians are being assured the nation is well-placed to avoid a recession as the Reserve Bank expresses alarm over Donald Trump’s trade war ā€œrollercoasterā€. Forecasts released by the Reserve Bank of Australia have painted a bleak picture of...[Read More]

Renewables, AI rules top productivity reform wishlist

21 May

Regulating the reckless use of artificial intelligence, speeding up approvals for renewable energy projects, and changing privacy and corporate tax laws will be targeted in a push to boost the Australian economy. The Productivity Commission named 15...[Read More]

Money still on rate cut despite surprise spike in wages

14 May

Economists still expect the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates at its next board meeting despite a surprise spike in wage growth. Wages rose by a higher-than-expected 3.4 per cent over the year to March, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures...[Read More]

Jobs and wage data in focus ahead of interest rate call

14 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]

Consumers in crossfire despite US-China trade war truce

14 May

Consumer confidence is improving, but Australians have been urged to temper their expectations after the treasurer noted the limits of a US-China trade truce. Both nations have agreed to a 90-day tariff reduction, with the United States committing...[Read More]

Living costs rising despite cooling inflation

7 May

Australian households who depend on government payments have faced the highest increases in living costs this year, new data shows. Age pensioners and other recipients of government help faced 1.6 per cent higher living costs in the March quarter,...[Read More]

Full steam ahead for cash rate cut as inflation settles

30 April

Interest rate relief could come within weeks after a higher than expected inflation print still fell within the Reserve Bank’s target range. Underlying inflation fell to 2.9 per cent in the year to March and headline inflation held steady at 2.4...[Read More]

Prices coming down as Coles keeps tabs on Trump tariffs

30 April

Prices on major products are beginning to fall at Coles as the supermarket giant keeps a close eye on any impacts of Donald Trump’s tariffs on products. Australia’s second largest supermarket chain on Wednesday unveiled a 3.7 per cent increase...[Read More]

Students and hire staff pay for Labor election pledges

30 April

Hiking international student visa fees and trimming consultant spending are Labor’s plan to keep the budget in shape while splashing out on election sweeteners. An assurance by Treasurer Jim Chalmers that more than $7 billion in savings would...[Read More]

Rate cut on horizon amid fears of more stock turmoil

23 April

Investors tormented by weeks of tariff turmoil will hope for a quiet return from Easter as mortgage holders eye a rate cut on the horizon. Stocks in Australia and the US have clawed back ground in the past fortnight after US President Donald Trump...[Read More]

Jobs market strong but Trump tariff bomb yet to explode

23 April

Global headwinds stirred by ā€œerraticā€ US policy decisions could still hit the Australian jobs market despite latest figures showing only a small uptick in unemployment. About 30,000 jobs were created in March after a shock 53,000 slump in...[Read More]

Economists send open letter opposing nuclear plan

23 April

An open letter from 60 Australian economists has rejected the coalition’s nuclear energy plan, promoting instead the subsidising of household clean energy policies, including incentives for home battery storage. The organiser of the letter, Gareth...[Read More]

Trump uncertainty set to smash Australian economy

23 April

Australia’s growth outlook has been slashed by a major international body as US President Donald Trump’s trade upheaval sends market volatility skywards. United Nations financial agency the International Monetary Fund said uncertainty had surged...[Read More]