business
Consumer affairs
Bonanza for insurance stocks tipped to cool as premium growth slows
Investors in insurance giants made bumper returns in 2024. But analysts say conditions will be less favourable this year as the pace of price rises slows.
- by Daniel Lo Surdo
Latest
Opinion
Privacy
No, retailers, you can’t have my number. We’re not in a relationship
I used to give out my phone number to any old shopkeeper. From now on, I’m playing hard to get.
- by Cherie Gilmour
Opinion
Beer
How a $13 schooner pushed me past the pint of no return
Why can’t we know how much a beer costs before we buy it?
- by Paul Marshall
Holden faces class action over alleged transmission defects
Law firm Maurice Blackburn alleges Holden’s parent company, General Motors, sold cars with faulty transmissions.
- by Tung Nguyen
Aussies face $2.7 billion Christmas debt hangover
Christmas shopping has given close to 2 million Australians a debt hangover that many will spend months paying off.
- by Hannah Kennelly
Kids store fined $5 million for exploiting workers
Blue Sky Kids Land promised “exceptional care” to its tiny customers and their parents. But the clothing retailer also systematically exploited its workers.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
Exclusive
Energy
‘Time is running out’: Victoria, NSW turn to gas imports as energy crisis nears
Governments are rushing to kickstart Australia’s first-ever gas imports, despite the nation being a top global exporter of the fossil fuel.
- by Nick Toscano
Record numbers of us will travel this summer – but only if it’s cheap
A record number of Australians are travelling over the coming weeks, but cost-of-living pressures are forcing a rethink of how much spending is done on holiday.
- by Daniel Lo Surdo
‘The time pressure helps’: Anatomy of last-minute Christmas shopping
Melbourne indie bookstore owner Leesa Lambert deliberately does not play Christmas carols in her store to try and decrease stress for last-minute shoppers.
- by Hannah Kennelly
Why this street parking takeover has the watchdog concerned
A proposed merger between the largest suppliers of on-street parking in Australia has sparked warnings about the impact on councils and ratepayers.
- by Daniel Lo Surdo
The story of Reginald Grouse and his very cool house
This Japanese-inspired two-storey brick house – designed by architect Reginald Grouse more than 60 years ago – remains a thing of beauty decades later.
- by Stephen Crafti
Original URL: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/consumer-affairs