Current deficit account narrows sharply
The strong result means Australia is likely to technically avoid a recession.
The Economy
The three Sydney districts generating a quarter of Australia's economic growth
A yawning growth gap has opened between our inner-cities and the rest
Chevron's multimillion-dollar tax bill appeal kicks off
An appeal against a multimillion dollar tax bill owed by multinational oil giant Chevron is taking place, and will have global implications for the way tax paid by large companies is assessed.
First current account surplus since 1970s seen
Australia could record its first current account surplus since the mid-1970s this year, economists say.
Company tax cut payoff will 'take years'
The Turnbull Government proposed company tax cut would cut national income for years before it boosted it and would never be self-funding, a new analysis from the Grattan Institute has found.
Cut in penalty rates another win for 'bizonomics'
In Australia, micro-economic reform has degenerated into a form of rent-seeking that's saying the way to a prosperous economy is to keep business – the people who create the jobs – as happy as possible.
GDP rebound expected in fourth quarter
Economists expect Australia to avoid a technical recession when official GDP data is released on Tuesday.
Reserve Bank chief Lowe overrules his staff on rate cuts
Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe has no plans to cut interest rates, and worries that he did he would make an already indebted nation "more fragile".
Why penalty rates should be sharply higher
This is interesting: the Fair Work Commission has pretty much agreed with the Productivity Commission's recommendations on penalty rates, so penalty rates should be sharply higher for everyone on shift work.
'Focus on other things': RBA chief all but rules out interest rate cuts
Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe has dashed hopes of a further cut in interest rates, pleading for people to "focus on other things other than quarter of a per cent moves in the cash rate".
No zealot about cutting company tax, Ken Henry despairs about Australia's politicians
Former Treasury chief and National Australia Bank chairman Ken Henry is far from a zealot on cutting company tax rates.
Australia must face some home truths about housing affordability
The next generations are going to be in real trouble if we don't get on top of this housing affordability crisis.
Cut the company tax rate and push up the GST, says Henry
Former treasury boss Ken Henry has backed the government's 10-year plan to cut the company tax rate, saying it should be done even sooner.
Business investment looks set to fall fifth consecutive year
Plans for mining investment are down 20 per cent and plans for manufacturing investment are down 1.2 per cent.
It's what they wanted, but it hurts
Low wage growth is what the Coalition wanted. Within weeks of being sworn in as employment minister in 2013 Eric Abetz warned "weak-kneed employers" not to cave in to unreasonable demands.
RBA's hands tied as wage growth hits new record low
Private-sector wage growth has slid to record low of just 1.8 per cent, throwing into doubt budget projections and confounding the Reserve Bank, which would prefer not to have to cut interest rates again and run the risk of reigniting house prices.
'Difficult to ignore': RBA concerned about high household debt
The head of Australia's central bank said on Wednesday the risks of encouraging more borrowing by already heavily indebted households argued against seeking a faster return of inflation to its target band, another sign rate cuts were off the table.
RBA sees rising resource exports, waning drag from mine-boom end
The Reserve Bank predicts rising resource exports in a more positive global environment will spur growth as the drag from falling mining investment wanes.
'That bus has gone': EU sees no Brexit U-turn now
Tony Blair wants fellow Britons to "rise up" and block or soften Brexit, but it may now be out of their hands - many Europeans just want them to get on and get out.
One way to fix an ageing society - get old later
When do you become a senior citizen? It might be time to think of people younger than 74 as "pre-old", medical experts in Japan say.
Calm down on housing affordability, says Reserve
Declining rates of home ownership aren't necessarily a bad thing, according to the Reserve Bank.
How Australia can avoid becoming the 'white trash' of Asia
I know how Jules Verne must have felt. My recent trip to New York plus three days in Israel and two more in London was a fascinating circumnavigation but thanks to Qantas and the LLJets I did it quicker than 80 days in a balloon.
Full-time jobs plunge as unemployment rate ticks down to 5.7%
Full-time employment collapsed to its weakest point in 16 months in January after two months of gains were reversed, leaving Australia with 56,100 fewer full-time workers than in January 2015.
Look! ScoMo unleashes a Liberal revolution
The federal Treasurer and the Finance Minister threw several years of Coalition dogma out the window and it's been reported as if it's just another day at the office.
Lara moved in on Friday. On Monday she had to move out again
The first ever national survey of renters' experiences has uncovered widespread fear and anxiety.
CEOs divided on civic impact of globalisation
Their businesses may rely on it, and most support it, but one in two Australian CEOs surveyed by PwC reject the assertion that globalisation has helped reduce income inequality.
Rates steady, economy weaker than RBA expects say experts
Australia's leading forecasters don't believe the Reserve Bank when it says the economy will grow 3 per cent this year and 3.25 per cent in 2018. The forecasts, in Friday's "Statement on Monetary Policy", are well above the median forecasts of 2.4 per cent and 2.8 per cent released by the Australian Business Economists executive committee on Tuesday.
Business confidence unexpectedly soars
The stars are aligning for the economy: business conditions and confidence have unexpectedly jumped, with employment conditions particularly encouraging.
The end of Australia's political consensus
Government at any price is the lowest common denominator of politics. The nation ends up paying for it.
Memo Scott Morrison: there ain't no jam jars
What's this about a "locked box"?
Small Business
The rules of winning friends and influencing people
Revised AANA guidelines require social media influencers to reveal payments.
How a financial detox saved my business
An online store selling mountain bike accessories was experiencing financial trouble. But a financial detox turned the business's finances around within six months. Here's how.