Petrol hits 25-month high; Consumers slash debt

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Credit/debit cards; Weekly petrol; Lending finance Petrol prices to lift further. The terminal gate or wholesale price of petrol rose by another 3 cents a litre last week to 25-month... Read more continue reading

Big issues for 2011

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Has consumer spending fundamentally changed? Is the US economy about to take off? Will China continue to dominate? Will the Aussie dollar be stronger for longer? How high will interest... Read more continue reading

China tightens again to stem inflation

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Chinese economic data Chinese consumer prices rose at a 5.1 per cent annual pace in November – the fastest pace in over two years but driven by higher food prices.... Read more continue reading

Weekly market & economic update – 10 December 2010

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Headline developments of the past week Another round of strong Chinese economic activity indicators, excessive loan growth and a further rise in inflation to 5.1% in November on the back... Read more continue reading

Investor Signposts: Week Beginning December 12 2010

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The big picture Economists of all descriptions rely on models to predict where the economy is going. Unfortunately most are based on past relationships and events, and of course that... Read more continue reading

Review of 2010 and outlook for 2011

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Key points 2010 has been somewhat disappointing for investors, with continuing economic recovery but various macro scares resulting in a constrained and volatile ride for share markets and other related... Read more continue reading

Employment soars; productivity now in focus

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Labour force Employment rose by 54,600 in November, well above forecasts centred on job gains of around 20,000 (range from +5,000 to +35,000 jobs). The October result was revised up... Read more continue reading

Weak home lending reinforces need for rate pause

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Housing finance Lending to build new homes was flat in October. A key leading indicator for home construction barely moved in October – ahead of the November rate hike. Loans... Read more continue reading

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