Big bite on spending swallows up hospitality businesses
A record-high 9.4 per cent of food service and hospitality businesses shut their doors in the year to March as cost pressures weighed heavily on households.
economy (general)
China hits back with 84 per cent tariff on US goods
China will impose 84 per cent tariffs on US goods from Thursday, up from the 34 per cent previously announced.
Bank boss alert, not alarmed over Trump tariff fallout
As rate-cut bets see-saw, the Reserve Bank governor says Australia is well placed for overseas shocks in her first speech since Donald Trump's tariff thump.
Reserve Bank call for calm is welcome amid tariff drama
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Australia is still well-placed to navigate the economic uncertainty generated by Donald Trump's wide-ranging tariffs.
Pledge to public servants as jobs cut fight flares
Thousands of public servants are being promised no major change to employment agreements if the coalition is elected as Labor pledges to keep everything as is.
Don’t be spooked by sliding super, funds warn members
Australians are being urged not to panic about their retirement incomes after Donald Trump's trade war sent global markets into a tailspin.
Risks of recession casts shadow over leaders’ debate
As economic headwinds emerge after US-imposed tariffs, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are vying to lay claim to being the best bet to deal with them.
Calls mount for RBA to intervene with jumbo rate cut
Markets are betting the Reserve Bank will cut rates by 50 basis points at its next meeting as American tariffs batter the global economy.
Trump to raise global trade tensions with new tariffs
After weeks of growing concern, President Donald Trump is set to announce his barrage of promised tariffs that could set the stage for a global trade war.
Soaring rents slow down as tenants pushed to the brink
Rents remain at record highs in every capital city despite a slowdown in price growth, says a report that finds low supply leaves landlords with the upper hand.
Brick by brick, parties build election housing pitches
Tackling housing instability is key to securing an election win, with Labor vouching for build-to-rent while the coalition says Australians should own a home.
Super failings laid bare after ‘deep grief, suffering’
The peak body for super funds has apologised after a financial watchdog report revealed delays were rife in paying out death benefits to bereaved families.
Dire stat demands ‘urgent reform’ from election winner
Whoever forms government after the election will need to deliver substantive reform to fix Australia's long-term productivity challenge, economists say.
Labor gets tick on tax cut, Liberal fuel plan sputters
Labor's election tax cuts will provide a "meaningful" boost to the economy, while the coalition's fuel excise cuts have been labelled economically "silly".
Home owners reap windfall as buyers warned on new units
Home sellers notched a record profit in last three months of 2024 but not every property owner will be so lucky in the future, real estate researchers warn.
Bayer hit with $3.3b Roundup verdict in US cancer case
Bayer says it will appeal after a US jury ordered it to pay one of the largest legal settlements issued in an alleged Roundup weed killer-related cancer case.
Budget fundamentals smashed as storms cloud outlook
Australia's federal budget is forecast to eclipse $1 trillion in debt for the first time in 2025/26, as global challenges threaten the nation's coffers.
No respite from tax burden on younger workers in budget
Young income earners will be increasingly called upon to fund rising public spending unless structural tax reforms are made in the next term of government.
Cheaper power bills pledge as Dutton spurs gas supply
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's budget reply has outlined an alternative vision to drive down energy costs and ease pressure on household budgets.
Feds accept GST recommendation despite state pressure
A controversial GST carve-up will go ahead as a federal minister says his government will not overrule an independent body's recommended funding for states.
Trump signs a bill to avoid a government shutdown
President Donald Trump has signed into law legislation funding the government through to the end of September.
Sunshine State dark as mining boom costs GST billions
One state has gone backwards in the latest recommended GST revenue carve-up with billions of dollars flowing to another as its population booms.
Leading economists call out coalition’s inflation claim
As the economy looks set to be front and centre in the election campaign, one of the coalition's leading inflation claims has been called "a joke" by experts.
Energy bill jolt: price rises power up living cost pain
The threat of further energy bill increases of up to $200 annually following a regulator's decision has put the spotlight back on federal energy policy.
Cheaper but smarter: smartphones target budget buyers
Three smartphone makers are launching cut-price versions of their flagship devices but experts say their biggest battle might be over AI features.
New vehicle sales stuck in slow lane, even popular SUVs
Hybrids are among few vehicles to withstand a continuing slowdown in new vehicles sales, with one model racing into the top ten.
Most workers feel overwhelmed by AI but bosses want it
Four out of every five Aussie workers are overwhelmed by changes at work but most executives want to use artificial intelligence to create bigger transitions.
Amping up: $45m boost to get women into energy and tech
Women could help to close skills shortages in areas such as cybersecurity, clean energy and construction that pose a threat to Australia's progress.
Household solar panels create a ‘worry’ for energy boss
Australian households may face changes to the way rooftop solar is handled as electricity grids adapt to more renewable energy created during daylight hours.
Diplomats discuss Ukraine war at G20 in South Africa
Foreign ministers from developing countries focused on global conflicts, including the Ukraine war, on the last day of a G20 meeting in South Africa.
Why the next big AI advance will not just talk but walk
Humanoid robots that can help at home or work are becoming tech firms' next big investment following breakthroughs in artificial intelligence.