Today
Chalmers reveals another tax revenue upgrade
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has flagged the mid-year update in December will paint a healthier than expected picture of the budget due to a rise in the tax take.
- 43 mins ago
- Michael Read
High-income households locked out of half of the housing market
The latest data shows an income of $172,000 is only enough to buy half of the homes on offer in Australia. Four years ago, it would buy 80 per cent of the market.
- Updated
- Nila Sweeney
Why rate cuts are at risk from Labor’s $3.5b cost of living relief
More handouts to secure votes in next year’s election will derail any chance of an early rate cut, investors warn.
- Updated
- Cecile Lefort
Yesterday
RBA hoses down early-2025 rate cut hopes
The Reserve Bank board has signalled that a rate cut in either February or April is highly unlikely, saying it needs to see more than one quarter of inflation data.
- Updated
- Michael Read
NSW braces for Trump trade turbulence and bond market shocks
The state’s treasurer has warned an erosion in free trade could make Australians poorer, as the incoming administration weighs imposing costly tariffs.
- Michael Read
Average tax refund revealed, and why you may receive ‘surprise’ bill
Bank depositors have had much to celebrate as rates have stayed higher for longer. But with more interest comes more tax. Here are some solutions.
- Lucy Dean
Where cash buyers are splurging billions on property
More than 141,000 residential properties were sold without a bank loan involved in FY24, according to PEXA.
- Nila Sweeney
This Month
‘Unhelpful’ governments driving up interest rates: BCA
Governments should put hard caps on spending growth to rebuild their finances, preventing the public sector from pushing up inflation, the Business Council says.
- Michael Read
The amount you need to put down for a home deposit is rising fast
Owner-occupiers looking to upgrade now need to stump up a $300,000 deposit, with high interest rates forcing some owners to sell and young people to seek help from mum and dad.
- Michael Read
More households making ‘difficult’ decision to sell homes, RBA warns
Real estate agents say financial stress – and divorce – are prompting a surge in distressed listings, particularly in Victoria and parts of regional NSW.
- Michael Bleby
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Economists give up on rate cuts. Investors and borrowers can too
Impossibly wedged between predicting the future and giving traders something to discuss, nobody wants to hear from the experts that the RBA is standing still.
- Anthony Macdonald
US October retail sales affirm strength of economy
Rate cut bets were pared after a better-than-expected 0.4 per cent rise in retail sales last month and an upwardly revised 0.8 per cent rise in September.
- Lucia Mutikani
The cities predicted to miss house price downturn
The housing price dip in Sydney and Melbourne has intensified in the recent months, but this may not last long, experts say.
- Nila Sweeney
Why Melbourne’s housing market is primed to outperform all capitals
The city’s improved affordability means it could outperform its peers in the next recovery, experts say.
- Nila Sweeney
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why interest rates could be higher under Trump
New research finds that Trump’s policies could drive rates much higher than markets are assuming.
- Christopher Joye
Powell says no need to rush rate cuts
Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said the strong US economy has given central bankers room to lower interest rates at a careful pace.
- Chrisopher Rugaber
Future Fund bets on US economy, warns of inflation return
CEO Raphael Arndt says the US economy is an attractive investment but Donald Trump’s policies and geopolitical risks could see the return of inflation.
- Cecile Lefort
Stage three tax cuts to be eliminated by bracket creep: PBO
The budget watchdog estimates the benefits of the tax cuts will be gone by the end of the decade as bracket creep drives personal income tax rates to a record.
- Michael Read
Albanese increasingly likely to face voters without a rate cut
NAB and RBC Capital Markets now expect the RBA to leave the cash rate on hold until May, after the latest practical date for an election.
- Updated
- Michael Read
Fed still on track to cut rates in December: CPI view
The three-month annualised rate of consumer prices increased by almost 0.5 percentage point to 3.6pc in October. Economists say the pace won’t derail another rate cut.
- Timothy Moore