Benign Chinese inflation placates investors

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Chinese inflation data Chinese annual inflation: Producer prices fell by 1.6 per cent in the year to January (median forecast was for 1.7 per cent decline). Consumer prices rose by 2.5... Read more continue reading

Job losses but grounds for optimism

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Labour force Jobs down: Employment fell by 3,700 in January after a revised 23,000 loss in jobs in December (previously reported as a 22,600 decrease in jobs). Full-time jobs fell by... Read more continue reading

CBA Economics: Consumer sentiment falls to its lowest level since May last year

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Consumer Sentiment – February 2014 Consumer sentiment fell by 3% in February to its lowest level since May last year. Sentiment declined for a third month in a row as... Read more continue reading

Home loans hit record highs

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Housing finance; NAB Business survey Record home loans: The value of all home loans rose by 0.2 per cent to record highs in December. The number of new owner-occupier housing loans fell... Read more continue reading

Weekly market & economic update – week ending 7 February, 2014

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Key events of the past week and implications While the past week got off to a bad start after a weather affected slump in the US ISM manufacturing conditions index,... Read more continue reading

How & where we spent in 2013

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Consumer spending perspective Retail trade in 2013: Over 2013 as a whole, Australians spent $264.2 billion at retail outlets. Spending was up 3.2 per cent over 2012 – the strongest calendar-year... Read more continue reading

The Australian dollar – still more to fall

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Key points The rising tide in favour of the $A has well and truly reversed with further downside likely in the years ahead, particularly against the $US and Euro. The... Read more continue reading

CBA Economics: Rising retail trade momentum is positive for household spending growth

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Retail Trade – December 2013 Retail trade rose by 0.5% in December to be 5.7% higher over the year. Retail prices are picking up, rising by 1.1% over QIV.  It... Read more continue reading

Home prices surge; Manufacturing contracts

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RP Data Rismark Home Prices; Manufacturing gauge; TD Inflation Gauge Home prices rose for the eighth consecutive month: The RP Data – Rismark Home Value Index reported that capital city home... Read more continue reading

Weekly market & economic update – week ending 31 January, 2014

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Key events of the past week and implications Emerging market worries and no signs that the Fed is too concerned as it announced a further tapering of its monetary stimulus... Read more continue reading