Economy

To hear the Woolworths and Coles chief executives speak on Four Corners this week, you’d think their industry was highly competitive. For instance, Woolies’ chief Brad Banducci said: this community over here, there will be three Coles stores within two kilometres of it, at least one ALDI

Living costs for employee households rose 6.9 per cent in the year to the December 2023 quarter, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: “Increases in annual living costs ranged from 4.0

Australians have been hit by large rises in grocery, energy, transport, child and aged care prices, only adding to other cost of living pressures. While extreme weather and supply delays have contributed to the increases, an inquiry into what’s causing the hikes has confirmed what

New data released by the Productivity Commission this week shows out-of-pocket costs for childcare continue to rise, as campaigners call on the Federal Government to abolish the childcare subsidy Activity Test to ease families’ cost-of-living pressures. The data also showed a downward trend in the

After a year-long inquiry, the ACCC has found that childcare markets under the current regulatory settings are not delivering on key policy objectives for all households and communities, including in relation to accessibility and affordability. The ACCC has recommended consideration by Government of potential changes

Inflation has fallen for the fourth successive quarter. Australia’s annual inflation rate fell to 4.1% in the December quarter 2023, down from 7.8% in the December quarter 2022. The new rate is the lowest in two years and the closest in two years to the Reserve Bank’s

The ACCC welcomes today’s announcement by the Australian Government that it will direct the ACCC to conduct an inquiry into Australia’s supermarket sector, including the pricing practices of the supermarkets and the relationship between wholesale, including farmgate, and retail prices. The year-long inquiry will also

RCSA’s latest Jobs Report has revealed that Australia’s Job Index has fallen 14.3% last year with advertised positions declining 12.7% in the December quarter alone. While the data isn’t celebratory, the job market is holding up well in comparison to across the ditch in New

Hourly earnings were highest for Managers in May 2023, according to detailed earnings information released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Managers had the highest average hourly earnings ($67.20) followed by Professionals ($60.60). Sales workers and Labourers had the lowest of all occupations

Why is Prime Minister Anthony Albanese suddenly so keen to deliver extra cost-of-living relief – keen enough to summon Labor members of parliament to Canberra for a briefing on Wednesday, followed by a National Press Club address on Thursday? One immediate reason is he is keen to