
Fresh data to shed light on retail, housing strength
Australians are expected to have pulled back on retail spending after major sales, with the latest data unlikely to shift the dial for the Reserve Bank.
Australians are expected to have pulled back on retail spending after major sales, with the latest data unlikely to shift the dial for the Reserve Bank.
More than 250 outlets of two leading retail chains will close, costing nearly 1000 jobs, after receivers failed to find a buyer for the stores.
Myer Holdings will get much bigger on Sunday, after shareholders approved its acquisition of 719 apparel stores, including Just Jeans and Jay Jays.
A decline in spending on household goods has bolstered hopes of an RBA rate cut, which would help boost dour consumer sentiment.
Consumer spending is past its weakest point but still subdued, despite a spike in activity from annual promotions in November.
Consumer confidence has bounced higher and is expected to keep improving as rising real wages and rate cuts support household incomes.
Cost of living pressures are not high enough for Australians to miss out on bumper billion-dollar Boxing Day sales after a season of early shopping tactics.
Aussies are expected to splurge on homewares and beauty products, with bargain hunters set to spend more than $1.3 billion on Boxing Day sales.
Mid-market department store Myer is beefing up security in its stores to protect workers and reduce the amount of theft.
Supermarket giant Woolworths will start restocking shelves after the workplace umpire backed its fight against workers blocking crucial distribution centres.
Australians have been saving what they can as living costs soar but experts expect more spending in the next 12 months, especially when interest rates are cut.
Striking has ended at Woolworths' distribution centres after workers who had walked off the job for 17 days accepted a fresh offer from the supermarket giant.
Woolworths is counting the cost of a 17-day strike that took millions of dollars from their bottom line and left shelves empty in the lead-up to Christmas.
Supermarket shelves will continue to remain bare as hundreds of workers picketing a major Woolworths warehouse fight for better pay and conditions.
Woolworths says strike action has cost the company $50 million as it lodges an urgent application to ban workers from blocking access to its warehouses.
Australian business must work through a patchwork of regulations wherever they operate, but requirements in some states are more onerous than in others.
A report has called for law changes to provide better protection from sex offenders for children working alongside adults across the nation.
The cost-of-living crisis is driving more and more people towards sales, delivering retailers a bonanza on the increasingly popular Black Friday.
Some 1500 Woolworths warehouse workers are on strike, but the supermarket giant insists their absence is not leading to empty shelves for customers.
Grocery giant Coles has held one site for 16 years without building a supermarket, but the firm has rejected allegations of anti-competitive land-banking.
Even Santa Claus couldn't stay away from Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, with Australians expected to splurge a record $6.7 billion.
Supermarket giant Coles rejects punishing fresh produce suppliers who disagree on pricing, as the company is grilled at an inquiry into the sector.
Representatives from supermarket powerhouse Woolworths deny its huge market share is costing suppliers an opportunity to negotiate when selling products.
Supermarket heavyweight Coles has developed a wide range of subtly-branded products it owns, denying there is any transparency issue for customers.
Woolworths has cast itself as being in competition with cake shops and newsagents, while also showing the might of its construction arm.
Multi-faith leaders have stood in solidarity against protesters planning to target a Christmas event, as the organiser insisted children were never a target.
Australia's two major supermarket chains say they will defend against class action lawsuits brought over allegations of misleading promotional price practices.
Politicians are unfairly attacking supermarket chains to provide answers to difficult questions about inflation, grocery giant Coles says.
The nearest supermarket rival to Coles and Woolworths says it's focused on trying to woo new customers rather than expanding its chain of Australian stores.
Produce growers face limited export opportunities, low bargaining power and high costs to supply Australian supermarket giants, an inquiry has heard.
Consumers doubt rising costs are totally to blame for higher grocery prices, as profits fall for manufacturers struggling to pass on surging costs.