RBA sees jobless rate edging lower, gradual wage growth
The RBA has cut its economic growth forecasts by half a percentage point for the rest of this year.
The Economy
The six charts that prove why workers are feeling the pinch
Australians love to whinge about the cost of living. But they might finally have a point, writes Jessica Irvine.
Some ethnic groups 'predisposed' to deal in cash: taskforce
Barring refugees awaiting decisions on their status from working increases the propensity for illegal cash economy activity, a government taskforce says.
The three things driving up electricity prices
Few subjects stir consumer passions like rising electricity bills. With power prices more than doubling after inflation over the past 10 years, that's hardly surprising.
Taskforce pushes for no more cash wages
Australians would no longer be able to receive wages in cash, and industries classified as being at "high risk" of illegally taking secret cash-in-hand payments including cafes and restaurants could be subject to a minimum rate of tax, which they could then claim a refund on if they can prove to the tax man that they should be paying a lower rate.
Building approvals jump 10.9 per cent in June
Approvals for the construction of new homes bounced 10.9 per cent in June, giving little indication the housing market is cooling.
RBA holds rates at record low 1.5%
The Reserve Bank has kept its cash rate on hold for the eleventh consecutive month, providing little indication of when it will allow rates to rise.
Home prices jump anew in July, testing regulators
Home prices in Australia's major cities rose strongly in July, putting a question mark over regulators' attempts to cool the market.
Labor's 'war on the rich' is firing blanks
Labor's policy in effect entrenches discretionary trusts as the vehicle of choice for the fortunate wealthy.
Australia's rates aren't as stimulatory as RBA thinks
For Australian central bank watchers, it seems no one is neutral on where neutral actually is.
Last charge of the rate-rise brigade
Do you realise the Reserve Bank board hasn't changed Australia's official interest rate from 1.5 per cent for almost a year? But that hasn't stopped people in the financial markets from speculating furiously about whether rates are about to go down – or go up.
The 10 jobs that claim the most tax deductions in Australia
Real estate agents and lawyers topped the league table, claiming $8634 and $7156 respectively.
Five myths about the housing market busted
In this week's episode of the Fairfax Media podcast "It All Adds Up", the team, Jessica Irvine, Matt Wade and Ross Gittins, respond to listener questions and bust these five myths about Australia's housing market.
RBA governor signals ignorance of the real world
If you were searching for reasons for stubbornly low wages growth, you'd think executive incentives and the decline of unionism would rate a mention.
Egg on faces as forecasters flunk on inflation
Only one of 24 forecasters surveyed ahead of this inflation result expected anything as low as 0.2%.
No rate rise on the cards as inflation disappoints
Inflation has come in well short of expectations, dampening talk of an an imminent increase in official interest rates.
RBA chief contradicts government on growing inequality
Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe has attempted to hose down talk of a hike in interest rates, saying Australia won't be blindly following central banks overseas.
'So cheap' - how fresh fruit is dragging on the economy
Sigrun Klatte is juggling a three kilogram bag of oranges under one arm and her son Caspar under the other.
The reality is the RBA has nowhere to move
For all those punters panicking about the prospects of an interest rate increase, the latest inflation data should allow them the opportunity to chill.
Bottom of the cliff? Investment boom is over
The completion of a series of huge gas facilities around the country is pulling back the value of major projects on the horizon, a study from Deloitte Access Economics has found.
Taking on family trusts a brave decision, Opposition Leader
The size and wealth of the beast means Bill Shorten could find himself facing a battle that would make the anti-mining tax fight look mild.
IMF sees US fading as China picks up slack
The world is leaning less on its biggest economy to sustain the global recovery, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Sydney, Melbourne house price growth slows over month
Sydney's housing market is continuing to slow, with the monthly growth in the price of a home down 1 per cent, latest auction figures show.
Reserve Bank deputy puts brakes on rate hike speculation
Australians should not read too much into the Reserve Bank's comments on a "neutral interest rate", deputy governor Guy Debelle says.
Human factor keeping jobs growth alive and well
Despite the scare stories about the rise of the "gig economy", full-time jobs growth is surging.
Australian dollar stung by RBA's rate comments
The Australian dollar slid back below US79¢ on Friday after Reserve Bank deputy governor Guy Debelle said there was no automatic reason for rates to rise.
Sydney is the crucible for a key economic theory
Can low unemployment lead to wages growth?
Strongest back-to-back full-time jobs growth in 29 years
Australia has achieved its ninth straight month of job gains, with 14,000 new jobs added to the economy in June.
Prepare for change. Rate will rise, says Malcolm Turnbull
Interest rate are going to rise, says Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Aussie gives RBA a rate hike it doesn't want
Companies fretting over talk of interest-rate hikes could be feeling like they've just had one -- thanks to a spiralling currency. The Aussie's ascent could start to hamper the country's transition away from a mining-boom-dependent economy.
Small Business
Jacqui Walshe runs a $300 million travel business you've never heard of
Delta, South Africa Airways, Abu Dhabi and New York City are just some of the Walshe Group's clients.
Will you pay more for extra safety measures?
Companies need to be better prepared when terror risks rise.