Unemployment rate falls to 5½-year low

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Labour force Employment rose by 50,900 in June after a 13,400 increase in May (previously reported as a rise of 12,000 jobs). Full-time jobs rose by 41,200 and part-time jobs rose

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Melbourne draws record Sydney air travellers

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Domestic aviation Air traffic: According to the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) there were 5.09 million passengers carried on Australian domestic commercial aviation (including charter operations) in

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Australia: Money for nothing

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The mid-winter lull in economic data continues in Australia. However, the all-important June employment report is issued on Thursday. Tourism and business sales data will also be keenly observed. The

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Weakest business confidence in 20 months

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Business survey; Consumer confidence; China inflation Business confidence falls: The business confidence index fell from an upwardly-revised +6.7 points (previously +6.2 points) in May to +5.7 points in June – the

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CommSec Research: Construction jobs growth at 17-month low

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Performance of Construction Construction gauge: The Performance of Construction index (PCI) fell from 54.0 points in May to 50.6 points in June – the 17th consecutive month of expansion, but the lowest

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Record car affordability; Consumer caution

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Consumer sentiment; Car affordability CommSec Car Affordability index: Currently someone on the average wage needs to work for 23.2 weeks to afford a Ford Falcon – the best (lowest) result

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China on Reserve Bank watch-list

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Reserve Bank speech The Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe delivered a speech at the Australia-China Relations Institute in Sydney last night. What does it all mean? Governor Lowe noted that

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Key benchmark for Aussie petrol at 3½ year highs

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Weekly petrol prices Petrol: According to the Australian Institute of Petroleum, the national average Australian price of unleaded petrol fell by 1.4 cents last week to 143.8 cents per litre.

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More Aussies find jobs and work longer hours

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Labour force; Airfares Employment rose by 22,600 in April after a 700 job decline in March (previously reported as a rise of 4,900 jobs). Full-time jobs rose by 32,700 while

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Interest rates remain at record lows

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Reserve Bank Board meeting The Reserve Bank has left the cash rate at a record low of 1.50 per cent for the 21st straight month (19th meeting). The last rate change was a

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