Today
Cost of living crunch adds urgency to Christmas charity appeals
Charities are reporting a dip in the number of donations amid a heightened need for support.
- 11 mins ago
- Gus McCubbing
UK inflation slows more than forecast, fuelling rate-cut bets
Consumer prices rose 3.9 per cent from a year earlier, down from 4.6 per cent in October, according to the latest monthly data.
- Tom Rees and Lucy White
Surprise fall in UK services inflation may hold key to rate cuts
Economists expect services inflation to continue subsiding, pushed lower by the drop in energy prices, the weakening jobs market and lacklustre demand.
- Tom Rees
Manufacturing sector mood hits lowest level since the GFC
A net 41 per cent of manufacturers expect conditions to worsen during the next six months, according to the ACCI-Westpac industrial trends survey.
- Michael Read
Yesterday
- Opinion
- Inflation
Beware economists who won’t admit they were wrong
From an economic point of view, 2023 will go down in the record books as one of the best years ever.
- Paul Krugman
This Month
RBA warns it may raise rates again, but markets predict cuts
Markets doubt the central bank will deliver any more rate rises, despite warning it may need to deliver another increase if inflation remains high.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Tip private schools out of boardrooms for a more productive Australia
Favouring the wealthy over innate talent in the education system is no way to filter what a country’s human capital might have to offer.
- Adrian Blundell-Wignall
Fed officials add to chorus pushing back against rate-cut bets
Chicago Fed president Austan Goolsbee said he was surprised by the outsize market reaction to the Fed’s updated quarterly economic projections last week.
- Catarina Saraiva
Labor starts long-term migration planning amid population boom
The inaugural ministerial migration roundtable comes amid growing concern about record numbers of foreign arrivals.
- Michael Read
- Exclusive
- Health insurance
Labor rejects 6pc rise in health insurance premiums
Health Minister Mark Butler has rejected a request to lift premiums by 4 to 6 per cent, as Labor tries to quell voter discontent over cost of living pressures.
- Updated
- Michael Read
- Exclusive
- Chanticleer CEO poll
CEOs warn red tape, higher rates holding back investment
The country’s top energy and resources leaders say stresses from higher financing costs are being compounded by activism and unfriendly government policies.
- James Thomson and Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Unlucky Jim undermined by his colleagues’ contradictory policies
The treasurer is hoping for a smooth landing on inflation, but the supply-side policies of his fellow ministers make that less likely.
- Ed Shann
10 long reads for the weekend
Welcome to the weekend. To start off your day, we’ve curated 10 great reads to enjoy.
Fed insider says talk of a March rate cut is premature
Federal Reserve Bank of New York president John Williams said it’s too early for officials to begin thinking about cutting rates as soon as March.
- Craig Torres
AFR Business People of the Year | What CEOs want | Inside Chemist Warehouse
In this week’s episode, James and Anthony take a deep dive into what CEOs want to see from Anthony Albanese in 2024 and discuss the astounding Chemist Warehouse deal.
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Votes at the UN are not for the home gallery
Voting for a one-sided Gaza resolution for domestic political reasons just betrays our foreign policy principles and costs us practical influence.
- The AFR View
What top CEOs want the Albanese government to focus on in 2024
Corporate leaders want the Labor government to focus on helping households with cost-of-living pressures, the housing crisis and slow planning approvals.
- James Thomson and Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Why our top CEOs fear for the great Australian dream
The concern among top CEOs about the housing crisis reflects broader worries about inequality, productivity and growth in a slowing economy.
- James Thomson
- Analysis
- Australian economy
Why interest rate cuts are in sight
History shows that central banks often begin cutting rates before annual inflation falls back to target. Markets are now pricing in two cuts before the end of 2024.
- John Kehoe
Young renters to bear the brunt of personal insolvency surge
People aged 24 to 45 comprise the majority of people who declare personal insolvency, and a new wave is coming.
- Max Mason
