More jobs, fewer hours, steady jobless rate

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Employment rose by 10,400 in January after an improved result for December. In December, employment fell by 3,800 jobs, not 5,500 as previously reported. Economists had expected a 5,000 lift

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Retail spending: The 2012 wrap

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Over 2012 as a whole, Australians spent $256.1 billion at retail outlets. Spending was up 3.1 per cent over 2011 – the strongest calendar-year growth in three years. The 3.1

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RBA exhibits quiet confidence

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The Reserve Bank Board has left the official cash rate at 3.00 per cent at its first meeting in 2013. The variable housing rate is applying modest stimulus to the

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Floods & the economy

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The floods across Queensland and northern NSW are currently estimated to cost the insurance industry around $126 million so far. And while estimates will change over time, these floods need

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Businesses cautiously optimistic

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The NAB business confidence index improved from minus 8.8 points to +2.9 points in December – the best result since July 2012. The business conditions index improved from minus 6.0

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Disappointing Christmas spending

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Economy-wide spending softened in December, extending the zig-zag run witnessed over the past seven months. According to the Commonwealth Bank Business Sales Indicator (BSI), spending fell by 1.9 per cent

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State of the States January 2013

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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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China: Recovery firmly on track

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The Chinese economy grew at a 7.9 per cent annual rate in the December quarter (consensus 7.7 per cent) up from 7.4 per cent in the previous quarter. In the

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Sharemarket: Closer to the peak than you thought

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The ASX 200 Accumulation index – measuring total returns on shares – has lifted by almost 20 per cent over the past year. The index is 12.2 per cent from

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Record fall in credit card debt

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If the Reserve Bank cuts interest rates again, would the impact be positive on the economy? It is an interesting question and one that the Reserve Bank probably didn’t think

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