Billions to be spent on Black Friday, Cyber Monday
Even Santa Claus couldn't stay away from Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, with Australians expected to splurge a record $6.7 billion.
economy, business and finance
Aussie farmers and businesses look for trade certainty
World leaders are working to shore up economic ties and push for open global trade against the prospect of a disruptive Trump presidency due to flagged tariffs.
‘Incredible attrition’: dire warning for small business
Small business owners are suffering from higher levels of depression and anxiety as high costs and regulatory roadblocks spark warnings of a mass exodus.
Coles denies unhappy suppliers cop ‘holiday’ check outs
Supermarket giant Coles rejects punishing fresh produce suppliers who disagree on pricing, as the company is grilled at an inquiry into the sector.
COP29 clinches $US300 billion climate compromise deal
Countries have clinched a deal to inject $US300 billion annually to combat climate change and help poor nations cope with the impact of global warming.
G20 leaders urged to take youth voices seriously
As a major economic summit gets underway in Brazil, a young Indigenous man from Darwin hopes the voices of young people will be heard by world leaders.
Woolies denies gouging suppliers in skewed relationship
Representatives from supermarket powerhouse Woolworths deny its huge market share is costing suppliers an opportunity to negotiate when selling products.
Pay gap narrows but leadership roles a drag on progress
Naming and shaming company gender pay gaps appears to be working, with a flurry of employers commissioning probes into the issue and taking action.
‘A sliver’: don’t expect oversized budget windfalls
Falling iron ore prices and a weaker labour market will weigh on this year's revenue upgrades, the federal treasurer says.
Trump picks Lutnick to lead US commerce department
US president-elect Donald Trump has chosen cryptocurrency enthusiast Howard Lutnick as his nominee for commerce secretary.
Coles denies supplier gouge through own-brand products
Supermarket heavyweight Coles has developed a wide range of subtly-branded products it owns, denying there is any transparency issue for customers.
China trade not comprising Australia’s interests: PM
Australia must balance its relationship with China and the US despite the countries' "very different" political systems and values, the prime minister says.
Trump joins Musk, Kid Rock in New York for UFC fight
Donald Trump has returned to the scene of a controversial campaign rally in New York to watch UFC 309 with Elon Musk, Kid Rock and Robert F Kennedy Jr.
Economists look to RBA minutes for clue on future rates
Public appearances by Reserve Bank officials will be scoured for clues to where interest rates might be heading next and how they view the economy.
‘I never took my time for granted’: retiring Labor MP
A number of politicians are farewelling the parliament ahead of their retirement next year, as Labor and the coalition look to end the year on a high note.
Developer malaise means Woolies is behind more malls
Woolworths has cast itself as being in competition with cake shops and newsagents, while also showing the might of its construction arm.
Premier flags tax stability for multinational miners
A mining boss has labelled Queensland's coal royalty scheme a 'sugar hit' as the premier looks to incentivise business with fewer taxes and regulation.
Cash flows but small business fears paying the price
Small businesses want an exemption to laws protecting the use of cash for essential items as the treasurer finds a fit for banknotes in a digital economy.
Social cohesion holds despite inflation, high migration
Australians are able to disentangle how they feel about higher migration levels from their appreciation of diversity and multiculturalism, research suggests.
‘Guarded references’: Door opening to rate cuts
The Reserve Bank of Australia remains 'vigilant to upside risks to inflation' but has stepped through a number of scenarios allowing it to cut interest rates.
G20 spotlights Global South, bracing for Trump’s return
The G20 summit highlights a shifting global order as leaders of major economies try to shore up consensus before Donald Trump returns to the US presidency.
Eyes on Trump’s China hawks as Australia quells tension
Tensions between Australia and China continue to cool, but President Xi Jinping has cautioned the diplomatic thaw must be managed "with great care".
Discount class action fresh headache for grocery giants
Australia's two major supermarket chains say they will defend against class action lawsuits brought over allegations of misleading promotional price practices.
Australian finance to spark Indo-Pacific climate action
Cheap finance for climate projects is on offer from Australia for small businesses across the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Coles calls out ‘politicisation’ of cost of living
Politicians are unfairly attacking supermarket chains to provide answers to difficult questions about inflation, grocery giant Coles says.
Consumer confidence rebound wobbles following Trump win
The recovery in consumer confidence is gathering steam despite a blip following the United States election result last week.
‘It’s a lifeline’: relief as government hands Rex $80m
The federal government will provide up to $80 million to keep Rex regional routes operating, a relief for rural communities fearing for their future prosperity.
Pay growth running faster than price rises
Workers have logged another quarter of real wage growth that, thankfully, is not strong enough to push back interest rate cuts.
Jobless rate holds at 4.1 per cent for the third month
Roughly 15,900 jobs were added to the economy last month, falling short of expectations, as the jobless rate remained steady at 4.1 per cent.
Climate change fuelling insurance cost-of-living crunch
More than two-thirds of parents are worried about rising insurance costs pushed higher by climate change.
Jobs still bright spot despite softer employment growth
There may be cracks appearing in the labour market but it's still strong compared to pre-pandemic norms and taking a long time to unwind.