This Month
Aussie dollar stuck in low gear despite RBA rate hike talk
The Australian dollar is defying strategists’ expectations and behaving more like a tired commuter than a currency ready to rally.
November
Weak retail sales stoke concerns about US economy
The figure, not adjusted for inflation, rose a tame 0.2 per cent in September after several months of more robust spending.
Why the RBA is on alert but not alarmed about its big inflation miss
The Reserve Bank won’t be cutting interest rates any time soon after one of its worst forecasting errors on inflation since the 1990s.
October
JB Hi-Fi says demand for AI-powered electronics will drive sales
Analysts said JB Hi-Fi’s share price fall on Thursday was largely in response to a run in the stock as well as slow growth at The Good Guys.
No more interest rate cuts, say economists after inflation bump
Economists are warning that the interest rate cutting cycle may be over after inflation rose more than expected as businesses passed on higher costs to consumers.
September
Why a Fed cut won’t actually be good news for Trump
Consumer sentiment among low- and middle-income earners is cooling as inflation rises and employment declines. That leaves businesses with a tariff conundrum.
Household spending to replace government as major growth driver
Economists predict that consumers will replace the public sector as the economy’s dominant force as falling interest rates spur Australians on.
August
‘Blue skies’ for mining giants after latest China stimulus
Shanghai’s move to ease restrictions on home-buying has bolstered investor confidence in the resources sector, with iron ore set to stay above $US100 a tonne.
July
ASX to slip as investors brace for big week in markets
Futures point to a lacklustre start for the ASX 200 as markets shrug off the record rally on Wall Street and wait for earnings and other data to hit.
Banks say borrowers aren’t reducing home loan repayments as rates fall
Three major lenders say only one in 10 customers are asking to pay less, a blow to retailers who have hoped the RBA’s moves would stimulate sluggish spending.
April
US consumer confidence plunges to lowest in 5 years on Trump tariffs
The figures reflect a rapidly souring mood among Americans, who expect prices to rise because of the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump.
America is panicking about empty shelves. That’s bad news for markets
The pain of a trade war between the US and China has already started, but Wall Street is all-in on a deal arriving soon. Here’s why that’s optimistic.
Why Rolexes and Nikes could get more expensive
The ripple effects from the biggest assault on free trade in decades will be felt across the world – not just on US shop shelves.
March
US consumers are freaking out. Australian investors should worry
Donald Trump’s tariffs have smashed confidence at the same time as household wealth has taken a whack from falling shares. April 2 looms larger by the day.
Signs of consumer pick-up as China fights off tariff hit
Data released on Tuesday showed retail sales rose 4 per cent in the January-February period, better than a 3.7 per cent rise in December.
Macquarie warns of bear market as US spending collapses
The broker expects any rebound to be short-lived as Donald Trump’s trade war and government spending cuts could trigger a 20 per cent drop in the sharemarket.
The six charts that show the consumer comeback is here
After two years of cutting back, Australians are finally loosening their purse strings as confidence rises. But a full-blown boom seems unlikely.
November 2024
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.
Key US inflation gauge and spending pick up in solid economy
The figures cap a month of upside surprises in vital reports that will likely augur a cautious approach to interest rate cuts in the months ahead.
October 2024
US economy expands on the back of consumer resilience
Inflation-adjusted GDP grew by 2.8 per cent while consumer spending advanced 3.7 per cent, the most since early 2023.