Economy

The simmering cost-of-living crisis in Australia is reaching a boiling point for small businesses, with an alarming 43% struggling to stay afloat. As Federal Parliament convenes in Canberra this Wednesday to tackle the issue, COSBOA CEO Luke Achterstraat has urged policymakers to prioritise fast and

In the new year, Apple surpassed Samsung, becoming the world’s largest smartphone maker for the first time in the last ten years.  With this in mind, City Index reveals the world’s biggest companies today by market cap, and how the landscape of corporate giants has

The Australian labour market in 2024 presents a mixed picture, balancing cautious optimism with potential shifts in employment dynamics. While a “soft landing” is forecast, strategic career planning and a focus on key in-demand skills are crucial for success. This report provides an overview of

Latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) confirms there were 849,075 small businesses in NSW as of June 2023, an increase of just 0.8 per cent over the financial year, compared with a 0.6 per cent increase for Australia. The ABS defines small businesses

Australians spent nearly AUD$200 more through the latest peak sales season in 2023 compared with 2022, according to the latest Digital Economy Index from leading global financial platform Airwallex. Key Findings: Australians spent an estimated extra AUD$192 online in 2023 compared to 2022 Every state signaled

In the face of unprecedented challenges, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) and Square Australia have jointly unveiled their illuminating 2023 Small Business Data Report. This comprehensive analysis delves into the struggles and triumphs of Australia’s small business sector against the backdrop of

Many small and family businesses say their biggest and most pressing cost pressure is not wages, energy or even landlords putting up the rent; it’s insurance, writes Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson. Finding adequate insurance cover at commercially viable terms is fast

The latest Employment Hero SME Index, which uses an accumulative dataset of over 150,000 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and 1.5 million employees, reveals wages in Australia’s SME sector have declined month-on-month (MoM) for the first time in six months, signaling further rate rises in the near

The Australian small business landscape is a dynamic arena, and navigating its shifting currents for continued growth can be a demanding task. While familiar headwinds like economic fluctuations and competitive pressures remain, 2024 offers promising pockets of opportunity for those venturing off the beaten path.