March
No joy for supermarkets in the election – but safeguards needed
There is a good case for both Labor and the Coalition’s proposals, but they should apply to all big businesses.
11 curious things you may have missed
What was in the budget for the Maugean skate, live music and St George Illawarra? We’ve found the budget’s new ideas and unlikely assumptions.
The new iPhone raises some questions. The trickiest one is in the name
We put Apple’s entry-level iPhone 16e through its paces, and found it compares pretty well to our iPhone 16 Pro. Here is a kind of alphabetical guide to the device.
January
Four charts reveal surprising views on Aussie businesses
Voters hate Coles and Woolworths? Think again. Amid a debate on the role of business in society, a new poll unearths some unexpected views on business.
December 2024
Retailers buoyed as shoppers swarm Boxing Day sales
Customers are also predicted to splash out a further $2.4 billion during the last days of December, research shows.
Why price discrimination can be a good thing
The online age may make it easier for companies to predict what we’re willing to pay. But it also makes it easier for us to share stories of nasty corporate behaviour.
What’s really at stake in Coles and Woolies’ pricing fight with ACCC
Coles and Woolworths know they’ve already lost their fight with the ACCC over allegedly dodgy discounts in the court of public opinion. But there are two reasons they’ll still want a legal victory.
November 2024
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.
October 2024
Don’t play politics with big business, warns Wesfarmers chairman
The prominent businessman said politicians should acknowledge that large companies are a “vital part of the economy” and “generate enormous benefits”.
Big-box chains not like Coles and Woolies, business warns MPs
Furniture giant IKEA says its business model did not allow deceptive price setting and it treats suppliers of live plants and food market items co-operatively.
September 2024
Coles, Woolies go ‘Down Down’ in the court that matters
Lawyers may tell Coles and Woolworths to fight the ACCC. But this is much more than a legal battle.
Did ‘illusory’ discounts from Coles, Woolies really mislead consumers?
The murky legal issue for the ACCC case against the big two supermarkets is what constitutes a “reasonable” period between a price increase and a subsequent promotional saving.
Inside Bunnings’ six new growth bets
Beyond the populist silliness over price-gouging, Bunnings boss Mike Schneider has a growth challenge on his hands. Here’s how he plans to solve it.
Bunnings CEO: Price gouging claims ignore lowest-price promise
The chief executive of hardware giant Bunnings, Mike Schneider, says the chain takes its promise to beat any competitor’s price seriously, and critics will not find evidence that it has engaged in price gouging.
August 2024
Date night swapped for meal kits as consumers feel the pinch
“We have cut back on everything,” says Alexis Hurditch, who now prefers to spend Friday night eating meals kits at home rather than heading out to a restaurant.
Banducci’s last Woolies profit is his worst misstep and finest moment
CEO Brad Banducci leaves the retail giant in a difficult spot. But the strategic decisions he’s made can drive the group’s turnaround.
How Coles stopped the thieves and beat the petty politics of profits
Populist politicians will probably claim Coles is price gouging. But its results tell a more nuanced story that’s resonating with investors, if not voters.
Zip nails comeback, predicts huge US transaction growth
Zip shares took a breather after a strong run driven by its pivot to profitability.
Bunnings faces grilling as Nats turn on ‘big-box’ retailers
Price-setting practices, land acquisitions and supplier relationships of major retail brands set to be scrutinised in a new Nationals-led Senate inquiry.
Card payment surcharge billions under RBA microscope
The RBA has brought forward an inquiry into card payment costs amid increased political scrutiny of the estimated $4 billion that Australians pay in fees each year.