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GDP

October

The US economy is growing ahead of the presidential election next week.

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.

  • Matthew Boesler

September

The US Steel plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania.

US economy proving still more resilient than expected

GDP expanded at an unrevised 3.0 per cent annualised rate in the June quarter, while it was updated higher to 1.6 per cent for the first three months of 2024.

  • Updated
  • Reuters

Government-funded jobs are booming but we’re not getting bang for buck

Productivity across the public service and government-funded industries like health and education has crashed to an 18-year low.

  • Michael Read
Cuts to overseas students come as major commodity exports get hit by dwindling prices.

Capping overseas students will trigger recession: economists

Australia’s commodities surge is over. Yet, the booming $50bn education sector is the subject of ferocious cuts with dire consequences.

  • Julie Hare
Labor has left the door open to doling out extra cost of living assistance, even as economists warn the rapid growth in spending is fuelling inflation.

No let-up in government’s spending splurge

Labor has left the door open to doling out extra cost of living assistance, even as economists warn that the rapid growth in spending is fuelling inflation.

  • Michael Read
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Rachel Lake says more customers are choosing Australian sapphires or lab-grown diamonds amid cost of living pressures.

Real diamonds can’t cut it as cost crunch hits lovebirds

The cost of engagement rings can jump by hundreds of dollars in a week, says jeweller Rachel Lake, leading to greater interest in sapphires and lab-grown diamonds.

  • Gus McCubbing
Jim Chalmers, Michele Bullock and the inflation dragon.

Treasurer v the RBA: Why Chalmers and Bullock are both right

Jim Chalmers says the economy is getting smashed by high rates, but it’s still running too hot for the RBA. The answer is simple: productivity.

  • Michael Stutchbury

Record government spending prolonging RBA’s inflation fight

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the economy would have gone backwards without government spending, but economists warn the outlays are making the RBA’s job harder.

  • Updated
  • Michael Read
Consumer and wages data signal the economy is growing only slowly.

Consumer slowdown hits profits and GDP growth

Growth in profits and wages is slowing sharply across consumer-facing sectors such as retail and construction, raising expectations for sluggish June GDP figures.

  • Michael Read
Outside the pandemic, it would be the slowest rate of annual growth since the 1990s recession, and the sixth straight quarter in which GDP per person declined.

Growth tipped to slump to 0.9pc, but don’t expect a rate cut

Outside the pandemic, it would be the slowest rate of annual growth since the 1990s recession, and the sixth consecutive quarter in which GDP per person declined.

  • Michael Read

August

One concern is whether US consumers can continue driving growth if unemployment is rising and savings built up during the pandemic are dwindling.

Is the US heading for a recession?

Most analysts believe the world’s largest economy will make a soft landing, with inflation falling back to the Fed’s 2 per cent goal without a sharp rise in unemployment.

  • Claire Jones, Delphine Strauss and Martha Muir

July

China’s Third Plenum outlined economic reforms but there was little detail.

China cuts key interest rate after Xi’s top meet disappoints

China surprised markets with interest rate cuts on Monday, in efforts to boost growth in the world’s second-largest economy.

  • Jessica Sier

Luxury brands roll out huge discounts as Chinese rein in spending

The sales are being offered primarily by aspirational brands such as Versace and Burberry, as China’s once-voracious middle-class consumers become more frugal.

  • Annachiara Biondi and Thomas Hale

June

Wall Street’s benchmark index was  treading water.

US economic growth revised up slightly to 1.4pc

The US economy experienced the slowest quarterly growth since spring 2022, though the figures were a slight upgrade on previous estimates.

  • Paul Wiseman

New Zealand shakes off recession but no relief yet

Gross domestic product gained 0.2 per cent from the previous quarter, when it declined 0.1 per cent, Statistics New Zealand said on Thursday.

  • Updated
  • Tracy Withers
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Rishi Sunak’s manifesto this week boasted that “growth has returned” following last year’s slump.

Britain’s economy stalls in blow for Sunak

Gross domestic product was flat in April compared with the previous month, a slowdown from 0.4 per cent growth in March.

  • Tom Rees and Irina Anghel
House and rental prices would fall by just 4 to 6 per cent over a decade under Peter Dutton’s migration plan.

House prices would barely fall under Dutton’s migration plan: Grattan

Peter Dutton’s plan to slash migration would have long-term economic consequences, but little bearing on house prices and rentals, says the Grattan Institute.

  • Julie Hare
The Chanticleer podcast features James Thomson and Anthony Macdonald.

Why everyone is talking about ESG | RBA’s $5b headache | Private credit boom

This week on the Chanticleer podcast, James & Anthony look at business’ ESG focus, explain how apparently sluggish economic growth doesn’t mean rate cuts are coming, and deep dive into the hottest asset class in the world.

The buyers jumping into Australia’s housing market

Even with 16 straight months of gains and repeated records for house prices, buyers appear willing to take their chances. The question is why.

  • Nila Sweeney
National Australia Bank  economist Taylor Nugent says  consumer weakness has been overstated.

Economy still too strong despite recession talk

Economists say consumer resilience shows there is still excess demand in the economy after a post-COVID spending boom.

  • Michael Read

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/gdp-5xq