Healthy wage growth to boost consumer activity

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Labour Price Index Wages lift driven by the minimum wage increase. Wages rose by 1.1 per cent in the September quarter. In annual terms wages are up 3.5 per cent

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Investor Signposts: Week Beginning November 14 2010

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Upcoming economic and financial market events The big picture It never ceases to surprise how many people treat budget figures as facts rather than estimates. The Mid Year Economic and

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More looking, but not all finding work

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Labour force; Chinese data Employment rose by 29,700 in October, in line with forecasts centred on job gains of around 20,000. Fulltime employment fell by 14.100 and part-time jobs rose

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Biggest slide in home building in a decade

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Latest economic data The outlook for home builders is gloomy. Council approvals to build news homes slumped by 6.6 per cent in September. Over the past six months approvals have

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Weekly market & economic update: 29 October 2010

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Headline developments of the past week US GDP grew an annualised 2% in the September quarter, which was right in line with market expectations. Clearly the US economy has not

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Deflation reigns: Bonanza for consumers

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Consumer Prices There are more goods falling in price currently than at any time over the past decade. In the June quarter 33 items were cheaper than a year ago

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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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Weekly market & economic update Friday 08 October 2010

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Headline developments of the past week The Reserve Bank of Australia surprised many by leaving interest rates on hold, but it made it quite clear that it retains a tightening

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Weekly market and economic update – 01 October 2010

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Headline developments of the past week Concerns about problems in Europe returned to the fore over the last week with Moody’s downgrading Spain’s credit rating, ongoing issues regarding Irish banks,

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Baby-boom! Migration levels ease

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Population statistics Australia’s population grew by 403,082 people over the year to March. Population growth consolidated, increasing by 1.8 per cent over the past year, however continuing to ease from

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