Economic Trends and Indicators

RBA Governor Michele Bullock has told Senate estimates that "practically no-one is in negative equity". Meanwhile, the ASX remains in the red. 

Australia's economy grew at an annual rate of 2.5 per cent in the March quarter, the same as in the previous quarter.

Australia's minimum wage will increase by 5.97 per cent, and minimum award workers will get a 4.75 per cent pay boost, in the Fair Work Commission's (FWC) annual wage review.

Australia now has 178 billionaires who collectively hold more than $686 billion in wealth, sparking debate about the advantages and disadvantages of the growing number of ultra-wealthy.

Why has Labor decided to spend the political capital of a large majority on a minor change to capital gains tax on businesses? 

Australia's housing market continues to lose momentum, with national home values flatlining in May as higher interest rates, weak confidence and proposed property tax changes weigh on demand. 

Last year in the US alone, projects collectively worth $200 billion were scuppered or delayed as communities protested the construction of new data centres promised to deliver the AI of the future. 

Auction clearance rates have fallen to levels not seen since the 2022 housing downturn. The ASX closed up 1.6 per cent on hopes of a Middle East peace deal. 

Commonwealth Treasury secretary Jenny Wilkinson says the average top income earner benefited from the existing investment tax arrangements to the tune of $700,000 over their lifetime, versus around $10,000 for median income earners. 

The Australian share market traded lower while the federal government proposed tougher scam laws targeting tech giants. 

Headline inflation decelerated in April, with consumer prices increasing at an annual pace of 4.2 per cent, down from 4.6 per cent in March.

People are less mobile, less dynamic and more risk-averse than we used to be, a series of economic indicators shows.

Negative sentiment around the property sector has started to make its way into the marketplace since the federal budget, but real estate experts say it may prove to be good news for first-home buyers. 

Australian markets have risen this morning, with Guzman Y Gomez surging on news it has pulled out of the US market.

Optus' owner Singtel says it is looking to sell a minority stake in it. And the jobless rate has jumped to 4.5 per cent, raising expectations the RBA may pause its interest rate hikes in June. Look back on the day's market activity in our blog.

The ASX 200 finishes the first session of the trading week with a fall of 1.45 per cent, continuing its downward trend this month. Meanwhile, uncertainty over the Iran war has sent Brent crude oil above $110 a barrel.

The Albanese government and the opposition both want to turn back the clock on the Australian tax system.

As Australians pay more on their mortgages, some countries have had no rise in their interest rate in recent years. So what's going on?

The government says the changes are aimed at levelling the playing field for young buyers bidding against property investors, while the opposition is pledging to undo the reforms, citing their potential to raise rents.

At the turn of the century, "aspiration" described Australians who wanted to put their kids into private school and university, and to build their wealth by getting an investment property or two. Today, it means something humbler; millions of younger Australians simply aspire to own a home one day, to have some shelter.