Full extent of Trump’s tariff slap on economy revealed

22 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]

‘Sustainable’: push to keep low-paid from falling back

22 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 ‘rollercoaster’ raises recession risk

22 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 “rollercoaster”. Forecasts released by the Reserve Bank of Australia have painted a bleak picture of...[Read More]

Money still on rate cut despite surprise spike in wages

15 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

15 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]

Living costs rising despite cooling inflation

8 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

1 May

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]

Rate cut on horizon amid fears of more stock turmoil

24 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]

Tariff turmoil triggers Reserve Bank inflation fears

17 April

The threat of Donald Trump’s tariffs loomed large over the Reserve Bank as it made the call to keep interest rates on hold, warning that US measures could lead to higher inflation. Minutes from the central bank’s April 1 meeting, released on...[Read More]

Reserve Bank call for calm is welcome amid tariff drama

17 April

The treasurer backs Reserve Bank assurances the domestic economy is well-placed to deal with shockwaves from Donald Trump’s tariffs. The central bank’s governor Michele Bullock tried to allay concerns in a speech on Thursday night after a week...[Read More]

Working women key to future economic growth: bank boss

16 April

Women’s participation in the Australian economy has been remarkably transformed in the past 40 years but more progress is needed, the head of the central bank says. Michele Bullock made history in 2023 when she became the first woman appointed...[Read More]

Calls mount for RBA to intervene with jumbo rate cut

10 April

Odds are shortening for the Reserve Bank to cut rates by 50 basis points at its next meeting as global financial turmoil weighs heavily on Australians. Though most economists do not view an Australian recession as a realistic chance, the prospect of...[Read More]

Two data prints and a Trump wildcard to decide rate cut

3 April

Donald Trump’s so-called ‘liberation day’ looms over the economic calendar but another date could have even greater implications for interest rates in Australia. By April 30 Australians could know whether the Reserve Bank is set to cut rates...[Read More]

‘Cautious’ RBA holds rates steady ahead of election

3 April

Hopes remain high for mortgage relief in May despite a “cautious” Reserve Bank of Australia keeping interest rates on hold. As widely expected by economists, the RBA’s new monetary policy board held the cash rate steady at 4.1 per cent at its...[Read More]

Inflation falls in line with expectations

27 March

The Reserve Bank’s efforts to curb inflation are heading in the right direction, with monthly inflation continuing downward, but it likely won’t be enough to force a rate cut next week. The monthly consumer price index fell 10 basis points to...[Read More]