Not keen to hire: Job advertisements at 32mth low

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Bad news for job seekers – the number of job advertisements fell for the sixth straight month, dropping by 2.8 per cent in September to stand 10.8 per cent lower

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10 Oct 2012

Online domestic retailers fight back

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Commonwealth Bank Equity Research Analysts have analysed the spending habits of two million CBA customers through the bank’s credit and debit card facilities. CBA cards data indicates growth in total

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08 Oct 2012

Rate cut: Will it help or hurt?

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The Reserve Bank Board has cut the official cash rate by 25 basis points (quarter of a per cent) to 3.25 per cent. The Bank cited global factors as justifying

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03 Oct 2012

Low inflation keeps door open for rate cut

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The TD Securities-Melbourne Institute monthly inflation gauge rose by 0.2 per cent in September after lifting by 0.6 per cent in August. Excluding volatile items, the inflation gauge was unchanged

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02 Oct 2012

Lending disappoints

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Private sector credit (lending) rose by 0.2 per cent in August after rising by a similar amount in July – and matching the weakest monthly growth in seven months. Annual

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01 Oct 2012

Banks warned on lending standards

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The Reserve Bank has warned banks to “resist the pressure to ease lending standards to gain market share.” Household conservatism is encouraged – “Ongoing consolidation of household balance sheets would be desirable

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26 Sep 2012

Budget on track despite record monthly shortfall

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The federal budget was in deficit by $43.7 billion in 2011/12 or 3.0 per cent of GDP. At the time of the May 2012 budget the government projected a deficit

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25 Sep 2012

Tough trading times for business

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There was a further easing in economy-wide spending in August after temporary stimulus boosted spending in May and June. After sliding 5.4 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms in July,

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21 Sep 2012

Biggest fall in credit card debt in 18 years

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The average credit card balance fell by $69 (2.0 per cent) to $3,299.10 in July. It was the biggest fall in credit card debt for a July month on record

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14 Sep 2012

Preference for bank deposits hits 38-year high

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The Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer confidence rose by 1.6 per cent in September to a reading of 98.2. Sentiment levels are up 1.3 per cent on a year ago.

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13 Sep 2012