Business
The economy
‘It’s really hard’: Farmers feel squeeze of rising power bills
Many Australian farmers concerned about the mounting electricity prices can’t pass them onto consumers, who are already feeling cost of living pressures.
- by Jessica Yun
Latest
‘We have got to open up quickly’: Business leader Leigh Clifford warns of skills crisis
Former Qantas chairman and Rio Tinto chief executive Leigh Clifford has been made a companion of the Order of Australia. In receiving the honour, he added his voice to the many business leaders calling out for a boost to immigration.
- by Lachlan Abbott
Opinion
Federal budget
Treasury boss’s quiet message: Higher taxes are the cure for our budget blues
Election campaigns are full of all the wonderful things the politicians want to do to improve the services we get and reduce the taxes we pay. It’s after the election that pollies present the bill.
- by Ross Gittins
‘Golden days are over’: China’s property tycoons suffer $90b meltdown
Property used to be a sure bet in China. But Beijing’s year-long campaign to control runaway prices has pummelled its biggest developers.
- by Venus Feng
CBA tips 18% peak-to-trough fall in Sydney, Melbourne home prices
Commonwealth Bank economists expect larger falls in house prices on the back of this week’s interest rate rise.
- by Clancy Yeates
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
Opinion
Interest rates
Rate rises or recession: pick one to worry about, not both
Some interest rate increases – including today’s near-certain hike – are not a portent of doom.
- by Jessica Irvine
‘We can get there’: Power chief backs Labor’s green energy goals
Ex-AGL boss Brett Redman says Labor’s clean-energy agenda and the rise of the Greens and climate-focused independents are clear signs that times are changing.
- by Nick Toscano and Mike Foley
Opinion
Wage growth
Labor mustn’t be panicked into doing something stupid
Who’d want to be the new Treasurer, Dr Jim Chalmers? Like Mother Hubbard, he’s discovered the cupboard is bare, but the last thing he should do is panic.
- by Ross Gittins
‘On a tightrope’: Construction industry creaking under pressure
There are real fears that increasing material costs, labour shortages and interest rate rises will push many in the industry over the edge.
- by Sarah Danckert and Simon Johanson
Opinion
Consumer spending
Coming down to Earth: The economy’s not as strong as we’ve been led to believe
Until we’ve fixed our chronic weak wage growth problem, we’re likely to see weak economic growth.
- by Ross Gittins