Strongest wage growth in 7½ years 

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Wage Price Index The main measure of wage growth, the Wage Price Index (WPI), grew by 0.7 per cent in the December quarter – the strongest quarterly lift in wages... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic and market update – week ending 18 February, 2022

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Investment markets and key developments Share markets have seen another volatile week being buffeted by waxing and waning fears of Russia invading Ukraine and fears of inflation and interest rate... Read more continue reading

Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) minutes suggest communication back on a more even keel – waiting for wages data but is the wait too long?

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Improved clarity of RBA communications After a period toward the latter part of 2021 when the RBA communication process seemed to descend into the realm of the confusing, the RBA... Read more continue reading

Rental vacancy rates hit 16-year low of 1.3% – capital city market rents rise by 7.5%

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SQM Research has revealed national residential property rental vacancy rates sharply decreased to 1.3%, down by 0.3% over January 2022. This represents a 16-year low for the national rental vacancy... Read more continue reading

Corrections, gummy bears and grizzly bears in shares

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Key points Shares have had a good rebound but could still fall further in the short term as risks remain high around monetary tightening and geopolitical tensions. However, a deep... Read more continue reading

Rate hike worries rattle consumers

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Weekly consumer confidence; CBA card spending; CBA Household Spending Intentions The weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence rating fell by 1.9 per cent to 99.9 points. Last week, household views on... Read more continue reading

Cafes and restaurants surprise winners; record petrol price

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Retail Trade; Job ads; Weekly energy market update Retail trade fell by 4.4 per cent in December after rising 13.6 per cent in the three previous months. Retail trade rose... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic and market update – week ending 4 February, 2022

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Investment markets and key developments Global share markets rose over the last week helped by a rally from oversold conditions, mostly good US earnings results and as Fed officials downplayed... Read more continue reading

Townhouse approvals hit 7½-year high before Omicron 

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Building approvals; Construction activity gauge Dwelling approvals rose by 8.2 per cent in December – the biggest lift in 9 months – to 17,698 units. But approvals are down 7.5... Read more continue reading

Is the RBAs end to bond buying a sign of a rise in interest rates?

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This week the RBA announced the end of their quantitative easing program resulting in the conclusion of their bond buying stimulus scheme. The end of the program, which was implemented... Read more continue reading