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Rents rise three times faster than wages

Rents have risen nearly three times faster than wages over the past five years, pushing rental affordability to record lows and stretching household budgets across the

Consumer confidence hits decade low

Consumer confidence has hit a decade low, with households pessimistic about their financial conditions over the next 12 months, and their economic conditions over the

Which of the emerging trade “clubs” should Australia join?

By Naoise McDonagh A profound shift is underway in global trade. Governments are moving beyond traditional free trade agreements open to all countries and embracing

Refinancing at record high, first home buyer loans rise

More people are looking for a better deal on their mortgages, as first home buyer loans rise 6.8 percent. Australian Bureau of Statistics data released today show a 20

Car servicing put on hold as cost pressures bite

Nearly half of Australian car owners say they are delaying servicing their vehicles as cost-of-living pressures continue to impact spending patterns. Research released

Are there better ways to deal with inflation?

By Luke Hartigan Just when we thought it was safe to return to the supermarket aisle, it seems inflation has come back to bite us again. Worse, the Reserve Bank of

Consumers facing ‘cutback fatigue’ as price rises bite

Cost of living pressure in Australia is creating “cutback fatigue” as consumers try to save as well as cope with rising bills. The National Australia Bank’s latest

Mortgage holders hit with interest rate rise

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board has announced the expected 0.25 percentage points increase in the base interest rate, bringing the cash rate to 3.85

Low volumes of homes for sale driving price increases

Low supplies of houses for sale are keeping upward pressure on prices despite conditions that would normally dampen demand. Real estate research group Cotality estimates

Beware the risks in gold and silver price rollercoaster

By Angel Zhong and Jason Tian The start of 2026 has seen gold and silver surge to record highs – only to crash on Friday. Gold prices peaked above US$5500 (A$7900)

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