Our Team

James GlynnSenior Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

Bets on an interest rate cut next month rose sharply on Thursday after data showed that unemployment crept higher in August.

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe is likely to follow the global lead and cut rates sooner rather than later.

The RBA has kept the door open to cut the cash rate further, but the timing remains uncertain.

When the Reserve Bank cut rates in June and July, the first since 2016, policymakers knew there were risks.

Luckily for Australia, the US-China trade war happened.

Rhiannon Hoyle and James Glynn

If the GDP figure was closer to 0.2 per cent instead of the 0.5 per cent delivered, the RBA would be readying to cut interest rates.

Retail spending remained restrained in July despite income tax reductions and an RBA rate cut.

An iron ore spike has driven Australia’s current account to a surplus for the first time since 1975.

There is every chance that the economy contracted in the second quarter, stoking concern about an approaching recession.

COMMENTARYEconomics

Policymakers in Australia must explain why the economy is trundling along at its slowest pace in nearly 30 years.