This Month
The Ivy to host Barrenjoey banker bash
The upmarket nightclub will play host to the investment bank’s staff Christmas bash next month.
- Mark Di Stefano
Consumer confidence hits 2½-year high as rate rise fears ease
Despite the lift in sentiment, households may need to wait another seven months before receiving mortgage relief.
- Michael Read
- Gadgets With John Davidson
- Digital Life
Apple launches our favourite gadget of 2024
The new Mac mini is tiny, fast, cheap and brilliant. What more could you ask for, after a year of underwhelming AI?
- John Davidson
- Exclusive
- Supermarkets
Red flag over Choice’s taxpayer-funded grocery price watch
The consumer advocacy group has overstated the difference in prices between the big supermarkets and discount store Aldi, a Wall Street investment bank says.
- Carrie LaFrenz
Small retailers give a ‘hard no’ to Black Friday and the big sales
Dr Dough Donuts boss Kristy Bannister says discount blitzes like Black Friday do more harm than good for smaller retailers by creating “unsustainable” expectations.
- Gus McCubbing
- Christmas Gift Guide 2023
- Life & Leisure
Jill Dupleix’s easy festive menu from three top cookbooks of 2023
Why sweat in the kitchen while everyone else is drinking bubbly and opening presents?
- Jill Dupleix
- Opinion
- US Votes 2024
Inflation hangover gives Trump traction
Inflation is falling more quickly in the US, but Donald Trump is relying on high prices to accuse Kamala Harris of delivering an economic nightmare.
- Jennifer Hewett
October
Crisafulli presses Albanese on funding share, Olympics
Incoming Queensland premier David Crisafulli will be officially sworn in on Monday, triggering a shift in policies and a new wave of cabinet ministers.
- James Hall
US dockworkers strike, halting half the nation’s ocean shipping
The strike blocks everything from food to automobile shipments across dozens of ports from Maine to Texas, in a disruption likely to cost the economy billions a day.
- Doyinsola Oladipo and David Shepardson
July
‘We know over 500 customers’ are searching for it’: the big changes coming to DJs
Although shoppers remain cautious, Scott Fyfe and Anchorage Capital are hoping their $250 million revamp will keep consumers spending.
- Carrie LaFrenz
July
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Inflation helps government dodge interest rate bullet
The June quarter figures were not good, but they also weren’t as bad as feared. That is likely to give the Reserve Bank breathing space to keep interest rates on hold next week.
- Jennifer Hewett
Bombed out retailers stage comeback ahead of results season
There is plenty of pressure on household budgets, but retailers from Universal Store to shoe chain owner Accent Group say trading is picking up.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Joanne Tran
- Analysis
- Shipping
Chinese exporters raise fears of Christmas freight crisis
Red Sea attacks have pushed up costs and put pressure on profits during a critical season for trade. There are also worries US tariff increases could add further to costs.
- Chan Ho-him, Joe Leahy and Oliver Telling
June
Retailers have bigger worries than possible interest rate rise
Nick Scali and Harvey Norman say they are getting squeezed from all directions. A rate rise would add to their woes but other costs are doing more damage.
- Carrie LaFrenz and James Eyers
May
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Why rate cuts look even further away
The latest inflation figures look like bad news for interest rates, even if the government doesn’t agree.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Chalmers confronts his economic critics
The treasurer insists his budget gets the balance right, even if the economists don’t agree. What will the Reserve Bank and the voters think?
- Updated
- Jennifer Hewett
February
Mall owner Vicinity locks in retail rebound
The shopping centre landlord took advantage of stronger than expected retail conditions to lock in higher rents, improving its earnings guidance as a result.
- Nick Lenaghan
Retailers bank on tax and rate cuts to overcome sluggish year ahead
The next year is expected to be one of the slowest in the past decade, with store owners already reporting sluggish sales in December and January.
- Carrie LaFrenz
January
Locals ‘traumatised’ as more heavy rain hits Queensland
Queensland’s south-east has again been saturated by heavy rainfall, causing flash flooding in areas still reeling from severe weather last month.
- Keira Jenkins
Retail sales plunge, Godfreys goes bust
Shoppers slashed retail spending in the run-up to Christmas by the most since the pandemic lockdowns, by cutting back on household goods, clothes and footwear.
- Updated
- John Kehoe