Opinion
Interest rates
The RBA chose to sit on its hands in 2024. Here’s why
If and when the RBA does cut interest rates, it will provide relief to millions. But it will also bring sighs of despair from others.
- by Shane Wright
Latest
Exclusive
Federal budget
Cost of caring for veterans climbs to $13 billion
A backlog of 60,000 unprocessed medical and compensation claims from veterans has been cleared – and has delivered a $13 billion hit to the budget.
- by Shane Wright
Wages slowdown and struggling economy give RBA room to move
Minutes of the Reserve Bank’s most recent meeting suggest inflation pressures are easing faster than expected, in good news for borrowers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
- by Shane Wright
Five Australian cities are now among world’s top 20 most expensive
The International Monetary Fund says nothing short of major reform can change the fact that Australian housing, across all international metrics, is some of the most expensive in the world.
- by Shane Wright
Exclusive
Interest rates
The RBA might delay cutting rates – again. There’s a silver lining for some
Internal documents suggest the Reserve Bank may have to delay interest rate cuts – and its economists understand why that’s confusing for regular Australians.
- by Shane Wright
Hopes pinned on pre-fab homes as building pipeline hits $213 billion
A blowout in construction costs since the pandemic continues to weigh on building costs. The government hopes pre-fab homes might ease price pressures.
- by Shane Wright and David Crowe
More migrants, fewer babies as population heads for 31.3 million
Australia is expected to be home to an extra 4.1 million people by the middle of the next decade, despite falling fertility and an increase in deaths.
- by Shane Wright
Cash will remain king in the supermarket – but not at the bottle-o
The government is mandating cash for essential services across the country. Supermarkets and petrol stations are in – but bottle shops and cafes are out.
- by Shane Wright
Exclusive
Australian economy
‘We’ve been vindicated’: Chalmers says government spending has saved the nation from recession
After coming under fire from for his mid-year budget update, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says: “We’ve rejected this free advice that says slash and burn in the budget”.
- by Shane Wright and David Crowe
Opinion
Jobs
Why my bosses are both out of a job. But spa builders are doing OK
What’s in a job title? Everything, if your job just happened to disappear as part of a major revamp by the bureau of statistics of the nation’s thousands of occupations.
- by Shane Wright
Analysis
Federal budget
Might look like Chalmers is spending like a drunken sailor, but this is what’s really going on
Both sides know the current system, reliant on the nation’s army of wage slaves, is failing the economy and future generations.
- by Shane Wright
Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/by/shane-wright-h170pw