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Australia

Australian economy Stories

Australian Stories

Australian economy stories

Australian mid-sized firms absorb cost rises as they grow
MYOB

Australian mid-sized firms absorb cost rises as they grow

Mid-sized firms are still planning to lift hiring and investment, despite absorbing an average AUD $6,700 a month rise in running costs.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • 4 days ago
Australian SMEs brace for fuel, power cost pressures
Housing

Australian SMEs brace for fuel, power cost pressures

Most Australian SMEs expect fuel and utility bills to squeeze margins over the next year, while 73% see the economy weakening.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week
Reserve Bank of Australia lifts cash rate to 18-year high
Inflation

Reserve Bank of Australia lifts cash rate to 18-year high

Borrowers face higher mortgage costs after the Reserve Bank lifted rates to 4.85%, its highest level in 18 years.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 5 min read • Last week
Australia inflation data strengthens case for RBA hike
Housing

Australia inflation data strengthens case for RBA hike

Rising fuel costs and broad-based price pressures have left the Reserve Bank of Australia with little room to hold rates steady next week.

By Mara Sugue • 4 min read • Last month
Australia's next infrastructure market may be underwater
Job Market

Australia's next infrastructure market may be underwater

Australia's ocean industries already generate $229 billion and 712,000 jobs, but funding for cleaner seas still relies on short-term grants.

By Montgomery Simus • 5 min read • Last month
Australia jobless rate rises as economist questions data
Seek

Australia jobless rate rises as economist questions data

The latest jobs report may exaggerate weakness, with CreditorWatch's chief economist blaming volatile state and part-time figures for the national drop.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month
Australian manufacturers slash stock as cash pressure mounts
Manufacturing

Australian manufacturers slash stock as cash pressure mounts

Lower sales and tighter balance sheets are forcing manufacturers to unlock cash, with average stock on hand down 60% to AUD $185,134 in the second quarter.

By Mara Sugue • 4 min read • Last month
Auction clearance rate hits 19-week high across capitals
Real estate

Auction clearance rate hits 19-week high across capitals

More homes changed hands as vendors met the market, with clearance rates lifting to a 19-week high even as values stayed below a year ago.

By Raphael Veloso • 4 min read • Last month
Australia coffee sales fall as prices climb higher
Payment Technologies

Australia coffee sales fall as prices climb higher

Rising café prices are denting demand, with Australians buying 5.9% fewer coffees in 2025 even as the average cup cost climbed to AUD $5.83.

By Mara Sugue • 4 min read • Last month
Australia inflation cools but RBA likely to tighten again
Artificial Intelligence

Australia inflation cools but RBA likely to tighten again

A softer August reading may not spare borrowers, with CreditorWatch warning that broad-based price pressures still point to another RBA hike.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 30th Sep 2026
Payment failures put AUD $3.1 billion retail sales at risk
Disaster Recovery

Payment failures put AUD $3.1 billion retail sales at risk

Shoppers walk away within minutes when card systems fail, with outages now threatening AUD $3.1 billion in annual retail and hospitality sales.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 30th Sep 2026
RBA rate rise deepens Australia's housing market slowdown
Real estate

RBA rate rise deepens Australia's housing market slowdown

Borrowing power has fallen by nearly AUD $90,000 for a median-income household, leaving sales and prices under renewed pressure.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Wed, 30th Sep 2026
Australian household spending flat as fuel costs rise
Artificial Intelligence

Australian household spending flat as fuel costs rise

Fuel and other essentials kept Australian consumers under pressure in August, with flat spending and weaker non-fuel outlays pointing to caution.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Tue, 29th Sep 2026
Auction clearance rates fall to ten-week low across capitals
Real estate

Auction clearance rates fall to ten-week low across capitals

Buyer caution is weighing on capital-city property sales, with the combined preliminary auction clearance rate slipping to a ten-week low of 50.3%.

By Raphael Veloso • 3 min read • Mon, 28th Sep 2026
Australia housing downturn trims resale profits in June
Real estate

Australia housing downturn trims resale profits in June

Australia's housing slump has begun to erode resale gains, with the share of profitable sales slipping from a 21-year high in June.

By Raphael Veloso • 5 min read • Mon, 28th Sep 2026
AlixPartners appoints David Ellis as Partner in Australia
Digital Transformation

AlixPartners appoints David Ellis as Partner in Australia

The consultancy's Sydney expansion gains momentum as it targets restructuring and transformation work amid tighter capital conditions.

By Raphael Veloso • 3 min read • Mon, 28th Sep 2026
Fragmented workplace chats cost Australia AUD $4.46 billion
Software-as-a-Service

Fragmented workplace chats cost Australia AUD $4.46 billion

Australian workers are losing more than 75 million hours a year to scattered messages, eroding productivity and adding to business costs.

By Mara Sugue • 5 min read • Mon, 28th Sep 2026

Global Stories

Australian economy stories

Australian firms hold cash amid rising supply chain costs
Construction

Australian firms hold cash amid rising supply chain costs

Rising logistics, property and construction costs are leaving Australian companies wary of expansion as Christmas trading prospects soften.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Tue, 29th Sep 2026