Prudent Australia braces for challenges

From

The Reserve Bank has highlighted the conservative financial behaviour of households in recent years. The Bank concludes that “Few households appear to be vulnerable to falling into mortgage arrears.” The

continue reading

No stress, no debt Aussies

From

In mid-March the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the results of the 2010 social survey for States and Territories. The results of the survey for Australia as a whole were

continue reading

RBA: Cautiously optimistic as downside risks diminish

From

The RBA Board minutes note a modest improvement in global economic conditions, which gave the RBA reason to feel cautiously optimistic about the current economic landscape Reserve Bank Board members conceded

continue reading

Upbeat RBA Governor bemused by gloomy Aussies

From

The Reserve Bank Governor delivered a speech in Hong Kong titled “Economic Conditions and Prospects”. The speech was largely a sell of the Australian economy whilst highlighting the challenges that

continue reading

Fact or fiction: RBA Bulletin exposes the myths

From

Sometimes it takes thoughtful articles by a truly independent party to put things in perspective. And that is the real value of the Reserve Bank Bulletin – well qualified economists,

continue reading

Good news for government as budget improves

From

The underlying budget deficit for the twelve months to January stood at $37.1 billion. Over the same period the fiscal balance stood at a deficit of $41.6 billion and the

continue reading

Chinese slowdown opens door to stimulus

From

Chinese growth has slowed, but not stalled, and inflation has also eased. In short, Chinese authorities have successfully engineered a “soft landing” for their economy. There is now greater scope

continue reading

Ho-hum job market

From

If anyone was wondering whether the economic growth figures properly reflected what was going on in Australia, they had the answer in the latest jobs data. The job market is

continue reading

Economy limping, not leaping, into 2012

From

We should never forget that the economic growth data is ancient history. The Reserve Bank sets monetary policy by looking forward, not back. And in terms of published economic data,

continue reading

Reserve Bank acknowledges pain in community

From

The Reserve Bank Board has left official rates at 4.25 per cent. Last year the Reserve Bank cut rates at both the November and December meetings, each by 25 basis

continue reading