Bumper crop despite floods; Construction slumps

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ABARE Crop Report; Performance of Construction The Government’s commodity forecaster has lifted its crop forecasts. ABARES has lifted its forecast for the 2010/11 winter crop by 6.2 per cent. Despite... Read more continue reading

Reserve Bank more relaxed about the road ahead

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Reserve Bank Board meeting The Reserve Bank Board has left the cash rate at 4.75 per cent at its final meeting for 2010. The next meeting is on February 1... Read more continue reading

Petrol pain ahead; Tame inflation; Job ads slow

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Weekly Petrol Price, Inflation gauge; Job Advertisements Motorists need to prepare for higher petrol prices. The terminal gate or wholesale price of petrol leapt by over 3 cents a litre... Read more continue reading

Migrant numbers hit 4yr low despite tight job market

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Latest economic indicators The job market is tight but permanent settler numbers have plunged. Net permanent and long-term arrivals to Australia hit 4-year lows in the year to October. In... Read more continue reading

Depressed services sector; 4WD sales soar

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Latest economic data The services sector is going backwards. The Performance of Services index fell from 50.7 to 46.2 in November. Any reading below 50 suggests that the services sector... Read more continue reading

Weekly market & economic update – 03 December 2010

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Headline developments of the past week Better than expected economic data in the US, Europe and China along with the European Central Bank moving to extend its liquidity boosting measures... Read more continue reading

Spending slumps; Trade surplus with China soars

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Retail trade, International trade Retail spending slumped by 1.1 per cent in October, below forecasts centred on a rise of 0.4 per cent. Nonfood retailing fell by a much larger... Read more continue reading

Investor Signposts Week Beginning December 5 2010

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The big picture Most people tend to regard the national accounts as just an update on economic growth. But the publication is far more comprehensive than that, covering indicators such... Read more continue reading

Record economic expansion moves into 20th year

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National accounts The current economic expansion began in the September quarter of 1991. The 19th year of the expansion was completed in the June quarter 2010 and the 20th year... Read more continue reading

Puritan Australia? Alcohol and gambling shunned

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Consumer spending trends Aussie consumers are making fewer trips in the car but travelling more on planes and trains. And while we are spending more on little luxuries like shoes,... Read more continue reading