Jitters ahead of US rate decision

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Economic & financial events; Imports Volatility ahead of key events: Currency and share markets have exhibited volatility in recent days ahead the Scottish referendum and the US Federal Reserve meeting

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The inventories puzzle solved

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Economic Perspectives The GDP (economic growth) figures were released last week. And the question we are getting asked most is what is the story with inventories – that is, unsold

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Investor Signposts: Week Beginning February 27 2011

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The big picture The role of a business economist is to educate, inform and occasionally entertain. But most people merely want business economists to explain what key issues mean in

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Unleaded petrol sales slump to 13-year lows

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Petrol Sales; RBA Speech; Imports Petrol sales in the September quarter were the lowest for any September quarter in five years, as consumers and businesses focussed on cutting costs. Unleaded

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Petrol pain; Tame business inflation

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Producer price index; Weekly petrol price The broad measure of business inflation – the producer price index (PPI) – rose by just 0.1 per cent in the December quarter, well

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Consumer bonanza as import prices fall

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Import & export prices Prices of imported goods slumped by 3.8 per cent in the December quarter, driven largely by the appreciation of the Australian dollar. Import prices are 1.0

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China: Robust growth and inflation moderates

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Chinese economic data Chinese economic activity picked up pace in the last three months of the year. The Chinese economy grew at a 9.8 per cent annual rate in the

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Floods: Weighing up the costs

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Economic impact of floods The east coast floods were caused by the La Niña weather event. La Niña will continue until at least March. El Niño and La Niña are

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State of the States

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State & territory economic performance report How are Australia’s states and territories performing? CommSec has attempted to find out by analysing eight key indicators: economic growth; retail spending; equipment investment;

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Trade surplus to moderate as coal volumes fall

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International trade Australia’s trade surplus narrowed by $636 million to $1,925 million in November. Economists had tipped a surplus near $2 billion. Exports were flat over the month while imports

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