Budget 2013 – honey, who ate the surplus?

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The Federal Budget is hardly the most riveting document you are ever likely to read. Sure you know it’s important, but the problem is that it’s a huge document with

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Home loans soar but business confidence still gloomy

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The number of new owner-occupier housing loans rose by 5.2 per cent in March, the strongest rise in four years. But the share of loans taken up by first home

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15 key takeouts from RBA report

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The Reserve Bank has made only subtle changes to its forecasts on inflation and no change to forecasts on economic growth. Reserve Bank general views haven’t become more negative or

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Interest rates hit 53 year lows

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The Reserve Bank Board has cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 2.75 per cent. Equivalent official interest rates were last at these levels in 1959/60.The next RBA Board

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CommSec Investor Snapshot: Interest rates are low, but how low?

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Reserve Bank Board makes its decision today: Most economists expect no change in interest rates. How low are interest rates? Currently the official cash rate stands at 3.00 per cent

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Lack of building raises possibility of an interest rate cut

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Dwelling approvals fell by 5.5 per cent in March, after rising by 3.0 per cent in February. Approvals are up 3.9 per cent over the year. House approvals fell by

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Aussies are still saying no to debt

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Private sector credit (loans outstanding) rose by 0.2 per cent in March. Credit stands 3.2 per cent higher than a year ago but has grown at a 2.2 per cent

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Inflation dragon in chains

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The Consumer Price Index – the main measure of inflation in Australia – rose by 0.4 per cent in the March quarter, below expectations for a lift of around 0.7

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State & territory economic performance report

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

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Reserve Bank: Watch, wait, analyse

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The minutes of the April 2 Reserve Bank Board meeting concluded: “Overall, recent data suggested that interest-sensitive parts of the economy were responding to the historically low levels of lending rates

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