Economy

Couple with heart-shaped gift. | Newsreel

Australia places a $535m price tag on love

Spending on Valentine’s Day gifts in Australia this year is tipped to pass $500 million for the first time. Research from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA)
Read more 14 February 2025
Couple looking at paperwork with business person. | Newsreel

Rising rate of investment loans stalls

New investment loans have fallen for the first time in almost two years. New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows the number of investment loans for
Read more 12 February 2025
Young couple with new home. | Newsreel

Kiwi plan not a super idea for Aussie housing crisis

An analysis of New Zealand’s super for a house scheme has prompted the local superannuation industry to urge caution in implementing a similar plan in Australia to
Read more 12 February 2025
Woman in front of air conditioner. | Newsreel

Turnover heats up with summer temperatures

A scorching December led to a more than 10 percent jump in business turnover in the energy sector that month. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows
Read more 11 February 2025
Rolls of steel on back of truck

Can the PM win an exemption from Trump’s steel tariffs?

By Michelle Grattan The Albanese Government is set to mount a major effort to win an exemption from a proposed 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminium imports to the
Read more 10 February 2025
Clothes shop worker. | Newsreel

Retailers keen on action to cut crime and red tape

A change in the definition of a small business and a concerted effort to address retail crime are among the issues peak retail bodies want the Federal Government to
Read more 6 February 2025
Happy pensioners. | Newsreel

First cost-of-living decrease in four years for pensioners

Cheaper electricity has led to the first cost-of-living fall for Australian pensioners in more than four years. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data,
Read more 5 February 2025
Construction workers. | Newsreel

New employment laws drive spike in collective bargaining

A report on the impact of new Federal employment laws has shown an increase in collective bargaining and real wages since the legislation was passed, but has been
Read more 5 February 2025
Border between the USA and Canada. | Newsreel

Australia won’t avoid fallout from Trump tariff tirade

By Scott French In a hectic 24 hours of trade diplomacy, US President Donald Trump has paused his threatened 25 percent tariffs on US imports from Canada and Mexico,
Read more 5 February 2025
Couple buying a new car. | Newsreel

Spending trend strong to the end of 2024

Australian households splashed out on new cars and dining out at the end of last year, as spending rose for the third straight month. The latest Australian Bureau of
Read more 4 February 2025