The Big Issues of 2022

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For the past 20 years we have produced “The Big Issues” report – a report that has sought to highlight the issues that are expected to influence the economy and financial markets over the forthcoming 12 months. This is not a crystal ball gazing exercise. The aim is not just to forecast where certain economic

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25 Nov 2021

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Near-record business confidence: Business survey

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Business survey; Consumer confidence; Household survey; Credit/debit cards The NAB business confidence index rose by 11.2 points to 20.8 points in October – the second highest result on record. Business conditions rose by 6 points to 10.8 points. The weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence rating rose by 0.6 per cent in the past week –

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10 Nov 2021

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Aussie petrol prices hit record high – Big oil cash splurge

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Energy market update Oil prices continued to rise last week with Nymex crude at fresh 7-year highs and Brent crude at 3-year highs. The Australian average weekly petrol price lifted 8.8 cents to a record high of 169.5 cents per litre. Weekly energy market update The world’s biggest oil and gas companies report September quarter

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26 Oct 2021

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Delta plays havoc with spending trends

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Consumer confidence; Retail trade What happened?  Retail trade fell by 1.7 per cent in August to be down 0.7 per cent on a year ago. Consumer sentiment rose 0.4 per cent in the past week to a 10-week high of 103.7. Implications: Aussie consumers are looking ahead to the easing of lockdown restrictions. High saving/wealth,

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29 Sep 2021

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Consumer confidence hits 9-week high

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RBA Board meeting minutes; Consumer confidence; CBA Household spending intentions What happened? The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Board released the minutes of its September 7 meeting. At the meeting, the Board decided to taper its bond purchases from $5 billion to $4 billion per week until at least mid-February 2022, due to the “severe”

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22 Sep 2021

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Biggest lift in consumer confidence in 22 weeks

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Consumer confidence; CBA card spending; Overseas arrivals & departures What happened? The weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence rating rose by 3.1 per cent – the most in 22 weeks – to an 8-week high of 103.1 (long-run average 112.5 since 1990). Sentiment surged 10.6 per cent in Sydney and lifted by 6.2 per cent in

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15 Sep 2021

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Luxury vehicle sales lift; Petrol hits 20-month high.

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CommSec Luxury Vehicle index; Oil market update What happened? The CommSec index of luxury new vehicle sales rose to a 3-month high in August (and second highest in 33 months) – an annual total of 92,177 vehicles. Implications: An estimated $62.5 billion has been redirected from overseas travel to domestic spending and savings. Purchases of

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14 Sep 2021

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Energy sector lifts as investors weigh up Delta-Vax

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Oil market update; ANZ job ads; Monthly inflation gauge What happened? Last week, the Brent crude price fell by US9 cents or 0.1 per cent to US$72.61 a barrel while Nymex crude rose by US55 cents or 0.8 per cent to US$69.29 a barrel. Implications: The S&P/ASX Energy sector rose by 2 per cent last

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07 Sep 2021

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Higher oil prices, but energy sector at 2-month low

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Job ads; Oil market update; Inflation gauge What happened? Crude oil prices rose by 2.5-3 per cent last week. And the key Singapore regional gasoline price is now not far off the levels seen in October 2018. The Australian terminal gate (wholesale) unleaded price is today at the highest levels since late September 2019. But

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03 Aug 2021

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CommSec State of the States, July 2021

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July 2021 Overall results How are Australia’s states and territories performing? Each quarter CommSec attempts to find out. Now in its 12th year, the report also includes a section comparing annual growth rates for the eight key indicators across the states and territories as well as Australia as a whole, enabling comparisons in terms of

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26 Jul 2021

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