Today
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
China is still all talk on stimulus – for one good reason
China is again talking up its willingness to stimulate its spluttering economy. But action is unlikely to come until we know more about Donald Trump’s plans.
- 15 mins ago
- James Thomson
This Month
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Public sector is strangling economy to death
Like a parasitic twin, the healthy economy is sucking the life out of the sick economy. Something has to give.
- Steven Hamilton
- Opinion
- Investing
The five big questions for investors in 2025
After a couple of strong years, investors are right to wonder what comes next. Much depends on one very unpredictable man.
- James Thomson
Fed on track to cut rates: Wall Street’s view of jobs data
November’s payrolls report keeps open the door for a quarter point rate cut this month, though next week’s CPI data still needs to be cleared.
- Timothy Moore
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Michele Bullock could be the Maradona of Australian central banking
The Reserve Bank governor is weaving through the inflation challenge with a hawkish comment here, a dovish quip there and a steady interest rate.
- Paul Bloxham
Record government spending props up GDP
Public servant pay rises, energy bill subsidies, discounted transport fares and infrastructure spending pushed government spending to a fresh record last quarter.
- Updated
- Michael Read
Private markets to boom amid AI and net zero transition
The sector has emerged as a cornerstone of investment strategies as investors chase outsized returns and diversify their portfolios beyond traditional assets.
- Michael Read
- Analysis
- Interest rates
The PM no longer says Australians are better off. These charts show why
While some economic metrics have improved during the government’s first term, the one that really matters to voters – their purchasing power – has gone backwards.
- Michael Read
Retail sales hit 17-month high as tax cuts spawn consumer revival
Economists say a strong rise in retail spending in October could show the protracted household spending downturn is over, as tax cuts encourage shoppers to splurge.
- Michael Read
Auld named chief economist at NAB, replacing Oster
Sally Auld will be National Australia Bank’s next economics chief following the retirement of Alan Oster after 32 years in the role.
- Cecile Lefort
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Reserve Bank is needlessly smashing jobs
By arbitrarily and wrongly defining full employment, the RBA will cause misery for vulnerable working Australians and small business owners that is entirely avoidable.
- Craig Emerson
Chalmers has spent $60b more than he has saved, damaging the budget
Veteran budget watcher Chris Richardson says Labor has announced $104 billion in new spending over four budget updates, but raised only $44 billion in extra revenue.
- Michael Read
November
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Labor can’t legislate its way out of this battle with the RBA
There is growing disagreement over when unemployment is inflationary – and the RBA’s view helps explain why it is still so bearish on rate cuts.
- Laura Tingle
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Could the RBA cut interest rates in February?
The latest inflation readings imply that there is a possibility the Reserve Bank of Australia could start easing early in the new year.
- Christopher Joye
Chalmers commits to ‘first class’ RBA appointees
Jim Chalmers has pledged to put first-rate appointees on the new RBA board, as economists urge him not to put any Labor-aligned figures on the committee.
- Michael Read
Trump’s tariffs could cause deflation: Bullock
Australia could benefit from Donald Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, if affected firms divert their products to Australia and prices fall.
- Michael Read
RBA to undergo the biggest overhaul in decades after Labor-Greens deal
The RBA board will be split into separate committees for interest rate setting and governance after Labor struck a deal with the Greens and the Senate crossbench.
- Michael Read
Coalition wants to dilute lending laws to pump up first home buyers
An opposition inquiry will call for an overhaul of how banks and the prudential regulator treat prospective first homebuyers.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why interest rates won’t come down
Forget the headline number. The latest inflation figures are not good news for a government trying to sell its economic credentials.
- Jennifer Hewett
Here’s what the RBA might do after RBNZ’s latest cut
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand cut its benchmark to 4.25 per cent, bringing it under the Australian rate for the first time in a decade.
- Updated
- Cecile Lefort
