Retailing in last hurrah before rate rise
The Australian Bureau of Statistics says retail trade rose 1.6 per cent in March to a record $33.6 billion, coming before rising interest rates take their toll.
economy, business and finance
RBA lifts cash rate, warns of more to come
The Reserve Bank of Australia board has raised the cash rate by 0.25 percentage points to 0.35 per cent following its monthly board meeting.
EU pushes antitrust case against Apple
EU antitrust regulators say Apple is restricting access to its technology in a move that may force the iPhone maker to open its mobile payment system to rivals.
Morrison offers sympathy over rate rise
As the Reserve Bank decided on its first cash rate lift in almost 12 years, Scott Morrison says he understands some home borrowers will face tougher times.
Rate hikes needed to curb inflation: RBA
Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe has warned that without increases in interest rates, inflation will be a lot higher than present.
One in 25 properties ‘uninsurable by 2030’
A new report warns 521,000 properties could be uninsurable by the end of this decade due to climate change risks.
Rate rise to put pressure on home prices
Australian house price growth is slowing nationally and could come under further pressure as official interest rates start to rise.
Petrol prices on the rise despite tax cut
Petrol prices have risen for a second week in a row as international oil prices climb on continued supply concerns due to the Ukrainian war.
National standards adapt to new challenges
A future in which the digital economy is at risk of cyber threats and natural disasters demands new national standards, a report says.
Surge in power bills adds to cost woes
High international fuel prices and outages at coal-fired power plants are pushing wholesale electricity costs up across Australia, the market operator says.
‘No housing crisis’, says John Howard
As debate rages about inflation, John Howard says there is no housing crisis but acknowledges there are pressures to be resolved in the sector.
Indonesia widens palm oil export ban
Analysts say vegetable oil prices are soaring as Indonesia widens an export ban on raw materials for cooking oil to include crude and refined palm oil.
Milking it: Food prices rising fastest since 2001
The latest quarterly consumer price index shows food prices have experienced their largest inflation rise in more than 10 years.
Imminent rate hike tipped as CPI spikes
A surge in annual inflation to above five per cent has financial markets tipping a cash rate rise when the Reserve Bank board meets on May 3.
economy, business and finance
environmental pollution
oil and gas - upstream activities
politics (general)
regulatory policy and organisation
Qld coal seam gas waste plan criticised
Activists warn a draft Queensland government plan would allow the coal seam gas industry to simply bury waste brine, posing a risk to the environment.
Elon Musk is taking Twitter private
Elon Musk has reached an agreement to buy Twitter for $61 billion, promising a more lenient touch to policing content on the social media platform.
Economic outlook ‘tricky’ despite strength
Australia's economic recovery has been faster and better than expected, but war in Europe and China's COVID-19 outbreaks are wildcards for the nation's outlook.
Job boon for regions from phasing out coal
New modelling weighs up the jobs boon for regional economies from replacing coal-fired power plants with wind, solar, batteries, new coal or gas generation.
Small firms’ mood sours amid price rises
Confidence and conditions dropped among small and medium-sized businesses during the March quarter, a National Australia Bank survey shows.
Ukraine, US walk out on Russia at G20
Finance ministers from several countries have reportedly temporarily left the G20 meeting in Washington DC due to Russia's participation.
Treasury, Finance say economy is resilient
The Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook produced independently by Treasury and Finance has proved little different from last month's budget.
Rio Tinto backs Russian, Ukrainian workers
Rio Tinto says it is offering support to workers of Ukrainian and Russian heritage and has committed $US5 million ($A6.8 million) to humanitarian agencies.
Australia gets IMF vote of confidence: PM
The International Monetary Fund's upgrade of Australia's economic outlook is a vote of confidence, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.
IMF cuts global growth forecast due to war
The IMF has slashed its global growth forecast for this year due to the war in the Ukraine, COVID-19 lockdowns in China and rampant inflation.
Certainty welcomed for new gas, minerals
Australia will take its place in the new energy economy with taxpayer support to reinvent fossil fuels and mine new minerals, under plans backed by industry.
Calls to ease COVID-19 isolation rules
Business groups say it's time to scrap the seven-day isolation period for household contacts of people with COVID-19, which they blame for staff shortages.
More signs of rate rise sooner than later
The Reserve Bank of Australia warns in the minutes of its April board meeting that rising inflation has brought forward the timing of a cash rate rise.
Retailers to enjoy Easter sales boost
New research predicts retailers will enjoy a $7.1 billion sales boost this Easter holiday weekend, with Saturday one of the top 10 trading days of the year.
Queensland leads nation in carbon farming
An industry scorecard finds Australia is leading the world on carbon farming, but uncertainty hangs over the sector with Labor pledging a review if elected.
Rate rise risk unnerves mortgage holders
Households with a mortgage have posted a steep drop in confidence due to concerns a cash rate rise by the RBA is just months away.
Consumers, business upbeat ahead of poll
Consumers and business have entered a long six-week federal election campaign in a relatively upbeat mood.