Economy

The federal budget fails to account for the real cost of natural disasters, leading to funding gaps, a new research paper has found.

Labour market stability and slow wage growth mean that current job market conditions are unlikely to influence the RBA’s May interest rate decision strongly.

Reserve Bank board members expect inflation to reach its target in the March quarterly CPI reading, but US tariff developments are complicating the inflation outlook.

Hospitality and construction firms continue to lead insolvency statistics, but more are keeping their doors open through restructuring schemes.

The Commonwealth Bank Household Spending Insights (HSI) index rose by 0.9 per cent in March, following two months of subdued spending.

Over the past 40 years, women have made significant gains in terms of financial independence and social equity, Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has said.

Reserve Bank (RBA) governor Michele Bullock signalled on Thursday that there would be no rate cuts before the RBA’s May monetary policy meeting.

The US has slapped a whopping 104 per cent tariff on China in an escalating trade war, and has foreshadowed tariffs on pharmaceuticals, which could harm Australian suppliers.

Consumer sentiment slumped to a six-month low in April as US tariffs wreak havoc on share markets and spark global uncertainty.

Business conditions have continued to stay slightly below the average following little to no change in March.