CommSec: Aussies go on a health kick; exports reliant on China

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Retail trade; International trade Retail spending grew by 1.1 per cent in April after falling by 0.3 per cent in March. The lift in sales was driven by increased spending

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CommSec: Patchwork economy in reverse; manufacturing shrinks

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National accounts The Australian economy fell by 1.2 per cent in the March quarter. And while the downturn can be largely explained by the disruption to coal exports caused by

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AMP: Weekly market & economic update

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Headline developments of the past week The European debt crisis is continuing to rumble along with increasing talk of a “soft debt restructuring” for Greece which would involve extending the

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RBA minutes: rates on hold for now,foreign central bank investment on the rise

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Lending finance; RBA Board minutes Lending rebounds, albeit from a low base. Total lending finance rose by 7.7 per cent in March after sliding by 5.7 per cent in February. Encouragingly

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CommSec: extended retail slump; building approvals rebound

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Building Approvals; Retail trade Council approvals to build new homes rose by 9.1 per cent in March after sliding by a revised 5.3 per cent in the prior month. In

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CommSec Economic Insights: Fruit prices plunge; Manufacturing shrinks; $A soars

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Weekly petrol prices; TD Securities monthly inflation gauge Inflationary pressures ease. The TD Securities-Melbourne Institute monthly inflation gauge rose by 0.3 per cent in April or 3.6 per cent over the

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CommSec: Record quarterly fall in home prices

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House Prices; Private Sector Credit Capital city home prices fell by 0.2 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms in March after a downwardly revised 0.5 per cent slide in February, according

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Investor Signposts: Week Beginning April 17 2011

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Upcoming economic and financial market events x The big picture Aussie businesses have to cope with a lot. The global environment has been far from stable in recent years, what with

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Lending at 5-year low; Petrol at 30-month high

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Lending finance Lending slumped in February. Total lending finance fell by 5.7 per cent in February after sliding by 6.1 per cent in January. Lending totalled $49.3 billion in February –

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Jobs up, but slowdown clear over time

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Labour force Employment rebounded in March, lifting by 37,800 people. Economists had tipped job gains of 20,000 (range from +5,000 to +30,000 jobs). The February result was revised to show job

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