Australian recession
‘Hits just keep coming’: Inflation fears could spark retail meltdown
As interest rates rise and inflation bites, Aussie retailers are being warned they will soon face the toughest conditions in more than a decade.
- by Emma Koehn and Jessica Yun
Latest
Opinion
Inflation
The World Bank’s gloomy economic outlook might be too optimistic
The latest World Bank assessment of the state of the global economy and what the future holds makes for depressing reading. It may not have gone far enough.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Support young women and the caring economy, say top businesswomen
Women have to be front and centre of the federal budget, according to Chief Executive Women, which warns a generation of young women could be left behind by the COVID-19 recession.
- by Shane Wright
Analysis
Australian economy
Gas-led recovery goes the way of toilet roll wars as consumers save economy
The government pinned its hopes on a gas-led recovery to save the economy from COVID-19. Instead, it was cashed-up consumers who kept the country afloat.
- by Shane Wright
Economy rebounds to pre-COVID level but war and floods risk recovery
The economy is now almost 3.4 per cent larger than in late 2019 ahead of the pandemic, but the geopolitical environment and natural disasters may hurt the recovery.
- by Shane Wright and Jennifer Duke
Analysis
Wage growth
High-priced pets, petrol and prams could deliver political pain
Real wages are continuing to fall as inflation outpaces pay packets. It’s a problem for the economy, for voters and increasingly for Scott Morrison.
- by Shane Wright
Analysis
Interest rates
Thumbs up to higher interest rates: Just don’t tell our politicians
At 0.1 per cent, official interest rates have never been lower. Increasing them will show the economy improving, but politicians cannot admit that is the truth.
- by Shane Wright
Interest rates will go up: Treasury chief says a return to ‘normal’ coming soon
Treasury boss Steven Kennedy, who also sits on the RBA board, has warned interest rates will have to go up as the economy recovers strongly from the COVID-19 recession.
- by Shane Wright
It’s the economy, stupid. An election in a time of economic turmoil
The first post-recession election in almost 30 years will ensure economic issues are front of mind for Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese.
- by Shane Wright
Real wages to fall until mid-2023 despite tightening labour market: RBA
Real wages are falling and will continue to drop until well into next year, the RBA has revealed while predicting the nation’s jobless rate could tumble to 3 per cent as the economy recovers strongly from the Omicron outbreak.
- by Shane Wright and Jennifer Duke
Federal and state budgets recovering but debt bill grows
A new report shows federal and state budgets are recovering from the COVID-hit of 2020-21. But the interest bill is likely to be higher than forecast.
- by Shane Wright