Deficit on track, but surplus in 2012/13 is hard work

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On current figuring the Government will go close to achieving its goal of a budget deficit just over $37 billion this financial year, representing just over 2.5 per cent of

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Beer consumption hits 65-year low

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Beer consumption has hit a 65-year low. The apparent consumption of alcohol consumed as beer fell from 4.45 litres to 4.23 litres per person, in 2010/11- the lowest result since

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RBA says it’s time to muscle up

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The Reserve Bank Board cut the official cash rate by 50 basis points (half of a percentage point) to 3.75 per cent. The cash rate is at the lowest level

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Rate cut all but certain after weak inflation data

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The Consumer Price Index – the main measure of inflation in Australia – rose by 0.1 per cent in the March quarter, well below expectations centred on a 0.6 per

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Aussie 10-year bond yields hit 61-year low

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Yields on Australian 10-year bonds have fallen to the lowest levels since the early 1950s. This week, Aussie 10-year government bond yields hit 3.648 per cent – the lowest yield

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Business deflation?

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The broad measure of business inflation – the producer price index (PPI), or final stage prices, – fell by 0.3 per cent in the March quarter – marking the biggest

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State of the states – state & territory performance report

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Each quarter CommSec attempts to find out how the states and territories are performing by analysing eight key indicators: economic growth; retail spending; equipment investment; unemployment, construction work done; population

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Rate cut on the horizon

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The latest Reserve Bank Board minutes confirms that a rate cut is on the cards for next month provided inflation remains in check. “Slower growth in demand could be expected

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China achieves soft landing, now for the recovery

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Chinese economic data was weaker than expected; the Chinese economy grew at an 8.1 per cent annual rate in the March quarter (consensus 8.4 per cent) down from 8.9 per

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More jobs, but outlook still murky

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Employment rose by 44,000 in March after falling by 15,400 in February; economists had expected a 7,000 lift in jobs. Healthy mix in jobs: In March part-time jobs rose by

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