Green shoots among the capex numbers, such as they are
The great thing about the Australian Bureau of Statistics' private fixed capital survey is that it records more than the past.
The Economy
Investment outlook the worst since 2010-11
New investment intentions figures point to a shocking year ahead with mining investment down 22 per cent, manufacturing investment flat, and other investment down 16 per cent.
Building the nation, one apprentice at a time
You might remember being given a nickname at school or as you took up your apprenticeship.
Business spending shows signs of life outside mining
Business investment tumbled again last quarter as miners continued to cut back following their decade-long boom.
Boss of 23,000 workers once got confused for the secretary
When she first started in business, Singtel's chief executive Chua Sock Koong used to get mistaken for the secretary standing by to serve the tea.
'We're running out of shots', Costello warns
Future Fund chairman Peter Costello says governments are "running out of shots" to protect against any future financial shocks.
Retail sales flat, below expectations
Australian retail spending was flat in July, official figures show, which missed economists' expectations.
The graphs that show Australia's employment problems
The strength of Australia's jobs market is being overstated by a surge in casual positions and an inability by workers to secure more hours.
Apple decision has started a tax war - and Australia may join the fight
The tax revenue wars have begun - and Australia may join the fight soon.
Australia's growing debt a 'ticking time bomb'
Australia's fiscal position is becoming increasingly untenable, even if current debt and deficit metrics remain low by global standards, TD Securities warns.
Australian innovation lags behind Ireland and NZ
What does New Zealand have in common with Iceland? Both outrank Australia in innovation. In fact, Australia lags well behind the likes of Japan, Canada and Finland.
China puts reform back on table as monetary easing shows limits
China has returned to reform mode.
Foreign investment, the economic stimulus we love to hate
If foreign investment in Australian businesses is so unpopular with so many people, why do we persist with it?
Where unemployment is lowest in Australia, and where it's highest
Unemployment is at its lowest level since September 2013. But that doesn't tell the full story about the current state of the labour market.
Bingeing on Bentleys and Beamers, thanks to the RBA
Aussies are buying Bentleys, Jaguars, BMWs and Mercedes in record numbers even as overall living standards are falling in a sign of rising inequality.
Morrison levels with us: We have a revenue problem after all
Now he tells us. Within days of his appointment as treasurer last year Scott Morrison rashly assured us he faced "a spending problem, not a revenue problem".
An attempt to shock us out of our complacency, for what?
One year into his job as treasurer, Scott Morrison has conceded that he does have a revenue problem after all, and delivered a stirring defence of... not that much.
'She's great but she's not ready yet': A man's bias
Senior men in Australian business were twice as likely to rank other men over women as effective problem solvers, despite believing that women were as capable as men in delivering outcomes.
The Reserve Bank needs to end its obsession with inflation
The Reserve Bank gets it right by ignoring its target. Could it be time for a better one?
Bega slams Murray Goulburn for selling out farmers
Bega Cheese lashes Murray Goulburn for putting profit before farmers.
Public sector projects to fill mining gap
Public sector projects are likely to be main type of construction contributing to economic growth in coming years.
Rising $A a threat to terms of trade
Australia's terms of trade are likely to have posted their first quarterly rise in three years, but a strong dollar will cap the rise.
Australia could lose billions to China and India
Imagine a world where Australia produces little goods and services that may be taxed, and at the same time, loses out on billions of dollars of mining company revenue to China and India.
For many happy returns, call your favourite robot
By 2025 Australians may well see the application of artificial intelligence in the preparation of tax returns, according to a report by KPMG.
Consumer confidence hits near three-year high
Consumer confidence has hit a near-three year high, buoyed by good news from the jobs, stock and housing markets.
More Aussie companies paying out dividends
The casual observer of our reporting season at the half-way mark might think Australian business is very patchy indeed, if not seriously weak.
Xenophon leads push to axe inflation target
Senate powerbroker will move next week to upend the traditional contract between the treasurer and the governor of the Reserve Bank.
Preachers of innovation should start by healing themselves
Everyone accepts the importance of innovation and agile thinking but, as with most professions, it doesn't come easy to economic practitioners.
If capping executive pay isn't the solution, rethinking capitalism is
If our business leaders thought more about people and less about profits, there would be less of a disconnect between what those in the community and the corporate world think.
We're moving part-time as the jobs market hollows out
An election-driven burst of part-time employment has pushed the unemployment rate down to 5.7 per cent, disguising a continuing slide in the number of Australians employed full-time.
Small Business
How this company is turning over $200 million in its third year
A travel site that reached $200m turnover in three years works hard on this one thing.
You can forget about crying babies on flights
This inventor has the solution to the problem all travellers hate.