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The Economy

CBA economist Michael Blythe says Australia is seeing "the longest period of sub‑target inflation since the late 1990s".

Reflation a long way off in Australia

Consumer prices are likely to have edged higher last quarter driven by petrol, but core inflation will still linger at worryingly low levels.

The higher-than-expected spending in December didn't take place in the retail sector which saw sales dip 0.2 per cent, ...

Consumer spending above trend in December

The first measure of consumer spending in December to be released suggests Australian businesses had one of their better holiday seasons in 10 years, with consumer spending over the holiday period well above the decade growth average for the month.

The World Economic Forum in Davos this week takes place against a backdrop of growing anti-establishment politics.

Pay a key symbol as inequality dominates Davos

Chief executive pay has become a powerful symbol of the widening gap between the winners and losers created by globalisation, and boards must put more focus on justifying the bonuses they pay executives amid a backlash against free-market policies.

No one should be claiming we are definitely in a housing bubble right now.

Are we in a housing bubble? No one really knows

House prices are out of control in some Australian capitals. And this week comes a proposal that this should be countered by halting interest rate cuts — a move that would not only fail to solve the problem but also have detrimental impact on the rest of the country, where housing is not booming.

Fewer chief executives expect to see business conditions improve than a year ago, though there are more forecasting a ...

Business chiefs more cautious in 2017

Fresh from a year that delivered major political shocks and proved tougher than expected, Australian business leaders are taking a cautious approach to 2017.

President-elect Donald Trump

Why most economists are so worried about Trump

It's the double whammy that worries economists, that Trump's populist pose assigns less value to economic expertise, while also creating the conditions under which it's most likely to be needed.

'Tepid': The retail market was predicting a 0.4% jump.

Retail sales stumble in November

Economists are hopeful that a reasonable Christmas shopping period will make for a constructive quarter of consumer spending and help stave off fears of a recession, despite "tepid" retail sales growth in November.

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